TechCrunch’s Matt Burns reports that HP CEO Meg Whitman stated in a recent interview, “Apple does a great job. We need to improve our game and our products to take over the leadership position. Apple could go past HP in 2012.”

Matt writes:

“Yes. I think it’s possible if you integrate tablets,” said HP’s CEO, Meg Whitman in response to a question from French newspaper Le Figaro concerning Apple’s possible takeover as the world’s top PC maker. “Apple does a great job. We need to improve our game and our products to take over the leadership position. Apple could go past HP in 2012. We will try to become the champion in 2013. It takes time for the products on which I have come to influence the market.”

Whitman’s candid response echos a current debate: Should tablets, such as the iPad, be considered personal computers? If so, then Apple is on track to replace HP as the top PC maker. This comes after British research firm Canalys decided to include tablets in their analysis, basically crowning Apple as top dog. While Meg doesn’t dispute this technicality in the interview, she basically concedes all of 2012 and states to wait until 2013 for HP’s return to glory. After all, she says, that’s when the products she influenced would hit the market.

Well, I guess you have to have confidence in yourself if you’re the leader.

Whitman also talked about the future of webOS. She said a decision would be made in the next two weeks. A decision 600 employees currently “in limbo” anxiously await. Whitman did say HP needs two operating sytems, but hinted that Android could replace webOS.

The next few years will be interesting ones. Will Whitman be able to save HP’s sinking ship, or will the band be playing “Nearer my God to Thee” as the giant behemoth sinks slowly into the waves? Only time will tell.