Fergie eye Mourinho record in 2005

Sir Alex Ferguson would be happy if Manchester United won the title with a deflection off someone's backside, as "winning is the only issue".

Speaking to a US radio station earlier this week, Ferguson suggested United's target for the remaining nine games was to match the Premier League points record of 95 amassed under Jose Mourinho in 2005.



With a 15-point lead over nearest challengers Manchester City, it seemed prudent of Ferguson to find additional challenges beyond merely lifting a record 20th title.



Yet, ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland, the United boss dismissed his own lofty talk.



In the final analysis, all he cares about is winning the prize he has almost made his own for the past two decades, but which was snatched away from him with virtually the very last kick of the previous campaign.



"I don't care what I win it by," said Ferguson.



"It could be a dodgy goal off someone's backside in the last minute of the last game of the season.



"It doesn't bother me one bit. Winning the league is the issue."



As they prepare to visit the Stadium of Light for the first time since they stood by the side on the pitch, their own season over, to discover Sergio Aguero had sent City into ecstasy, Ferguson can have no complaints at how his players responded to that setback.



With just two draws and three defeats, United have been virtually foot-perfect, far too good for a City side who struggled to regain their previously high standards.



"These things are hard to take," said Ferguson.



"For about 20 seconds we thought we had won it and it was snatched away from us.



"But what we have done well this season is dusted ourselves down and made a real good challenge of the league.



"The concentration levels, the commitment of the players and the team spirit have been fantastic.



"In that respect we have answered the only way we can."



The anger Ferguson felt at the Sunderland fans' over-the-top celebrations has evidently subsided, meaning there is no talk of revenge as United look to claim three of the 13 points from nine remaining fixtures to clinch title number 20.



"I don't have any issues with the Sunderland fans," he said.



"I don't think Sunderland fans wanted Manchester City to win it any more than we did.



"It goes back to modern society. You see it from supporters every week. In a corner, wherever your supporters are, the opposing fans vent their spleen at each other.



"That is what happens in modern-day football."

United hire private jets to fly players home

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed how Manchester United have hired a fleet of private jets to ensure their players away on international duty are back in time for this weekend's action.

United face two tough matches in 48 hours – first they play Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday before their trip to Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final replay on Easter Monday.



Ferguson may rest some of his stars for the Sunderland clash, but is ready to pay out in order to ensure the likes of Shinji Kagawa who is in Japan, and Javier Hernández in Mexico return to feature in his plans.



"Freshness is the name of the game now as we come towards the end of the season and the intensity of vital games coming in quick succession," Ferguson told the Mirror. "My role becomes even more important in selecting the right teams, with freshness the operative quality. It's not necessarily putting out your best team, it's picking the freshest.



"This will be a real problem when the players come back at the end of the international break after playing two games involving long flights, particularly with Chicharito in Mexico [to play USA] and Shinji Kagawa with Japan [who have a World Cup qualifier in Jordan on Tuesday].



"In fact, we're making arrangements for some players to fly home by privately hired jet after their matches, to make sure they get home as quickly and smoothly as possible.



"Tiredness is a great leveller but we will do our utmost to make sure we field the freshest possible teams. Private planes are going to cost the club an awful lot of money, but it is something we feel we have to do.



"The players who have missed the international trips, like Ryan Giggs, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic, Alexander Buttner and Rafael, will be key players in the run-in. Paul Scholes is back in training and will play a part in keeping us fresh."

Fergie concern over Rio call

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted it is not completely certain Rio Ferdinand will join up with England next week.

Ferdinand was selected by Roy Hodgson for this month's World Cup qualifiers with San Marino and Montenegro, the first time he has been called up by the current England boss since he took charge just before Euro 2012.

The move caught Ferguson by surprise given Ferdinand's long-standing back and fitness issues and the Scot was not convinced a return to the international set-up, at the age of 34, was right for his experienced centre-half.

Ferdinand's current five-year deal expires at the end of the current campaign and the United manager said: "I was as surprised as anyone when I heard.

"I need to speak to the (United) doctor because we prepare Rio Ferdinand in a certain way and there are certain treatments he has to go through.

"He has to make sure he is going to be OK in terms of the number of games he plays.

"We have been doing that for two years and it has worked. We have to look at all these things before Rio decides (if he joins up)."

If Ferdinand did not report it would be more than a minor embarrassment for England boss Hodgson given his climbdown from previous statements that he has "moved on" from the Manchester United defender.

"The procedures have been the same all season which has given him fantastic performance levels when he's playing for us," said Ferguson.

"We have to consider that and Rio is considering that. And we'll see what the outcome of that is."

Fergie keen on director role

Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested he will become a director at Manchester United when he retires, but reiterated he has no date in mind for when he will step down as manager.

The 71-year-old previously announced he would retire in 2002 before reversing his decision and going on to continue a golden era of success for the club.

Ferguson, who has been United manager since November 1986, is currently planning to stay on at Old Trafford when he does decide to leave his post.

"There's no getting rid of me," Ferguson told twentyfour7 Football magazine. "I will probably become director."

When asked about when he will retire, he added: "Nobody knows, neither do I. It won't be a doctor that tells me to quit!"

Speaking to the wider media ahead of the clash with Norwich at Old Trafford, Ferguson insisted any move to a different role was a long way off and pointing out that the Red Devils are working towards what he believes is the "perfect" Bayern Munich model by installing Sir Bobby Charlton as a director and with former players in ambassadorial roles.

"That's a long time away (being a director at the club), I hope," he said. "The role Bobby Charlton has played at the club has been fantastic. He has been a tremendous support to the manager and a lot of the players.

"I think Bayern Munich is the perfect model. It's no problem having a replica of that for this club who have had so many great players over the years and who are now ambassadors like Andy Cole, Bryan Robson, Peter Schmeichel.

"There are quite a few of them here now and that's a role we should be using as well."

Speculation has linked the likes of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola with replacing Ferguson and the Scot feels the club will speak to him about his successor.

"They'll ask me. But I think it'll be a club decision not mine," he continued in twentyfour7 Football.

Ferguson also confirmed he is always keen to ensure former United players are involved in the coaching set-up with the Premier League leaders.

He continued: "Looking at my present crop, it's difficult, but the likes of Giggs and Scholes will be part of the structure here. Darren Fletcher in the long term possibly and Nicky Butt is with the reserves.

"We try to get as many former players in the set-up as we can, we've got a good back-up.

"We look ahead because that is succession planning in terms of structure - they've the experience of being at the club, being a player here, knowing what it takes to be a winner. It's good to have it here, keep it within the club."

Ferguson warns United squad to stay on their toes

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has re-assured his fringe players that they will all have parts to play as the Premier League leaders chase silverware on three fronts.



United host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday, which will once again leave Ferguson facing awkward decisions about who to select.



In the 1-1 draw in Madrid two weeks ago, United skipper Nemanja Vidic and wingers Nani and Ashley Young were all overlooked for inclusion in the match-day squad.



But Ferguson says his players should look to the club's recent past for examples of how to deal with getting left out.



"In 1999 I left Paul Scholes out of the (Champions League) quarter-final against Inter Milan, yet he was the one who scored the goal that got us through," Ferguson told in-house television channel MUTV.



"I left him out of the semifinal because I couldn't risk him and Roy Keane together as they were both on yellow cards. He accepted it graciously, came on, got booked, and missed the final anyway.



"What did he do? He didn't let it affect him. He went on to become one of the greatest players this club has ever had.



"The players sense it could be a big year for them.



"But at this club, in this situation, anything can happen on the run-in. Players can all of a sudden find themselves playing in a final or an important league game because that is the kind of squad I have."



With the Madrid game looming large, Ferguson is likely to rest players for Saturday's league game at home to Norwich City but he says he will not tolerate any signs that his squad are slacking off.



"It is very difficult to rotate the squad at the moment," he said.



"They all wanted to play against Real Madrid and there were a lot of disappointed players.



"That was fantastic. It is a measure of their own confidence in themselves.



"But we had a chat. I said: 'Look, don't think for a minute losing a game for Manchester United is a trivial matter.' It is a serious matter."



As well as their commitments in the league and the Champions League, United have also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, as they bid to pull off a repeat of their memorable 1999 Treble.



Ferguson hopes his side's quest for trophies will be helped by the fact the condition of the Old Trafford pitch has improved significantly since it began to show serious signs of wear and tear during the Christmas period.



"The pitch has improved a tremendous amount," he said.



"By the time we play Norwich I expect it will be back to normal, so hopefully we can take advantage."

Fergie: Squad better than '99

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that his current Manchester United squad is stronger than the one that claimed the treble in 1999.

Ferguson's side is on course to repeat that historic feat this season.

They are 12 points clear in the Premier League title race, secured a draw at Real Madrid to put them in touching distance of the quarter-finals of the Champions League and can progress to the same stage of the FA Cup with a win over Reading on Monday.

And Ferguson highlighted the fact that he now has far more options at his disposal than he had 14 years ago.

"We have a stronger squad now," Ferguson said. "When we went to the (Champions League) final, Keane and Scholes were suspended but Henning Berg was the only injury.

"I still had to pull in a player (Jonathan Greening) who had only played once or twice in the first-team.

"He got a medal for being on the bench. That gives you an idea of the strength of the squad."

However, Ferguson admits that if they are to secure another treble this season they cannot afford to lose their focus for a moment.

"It is nice to look back on these things and think how it was done at that particular time," said Ferguson.

"But the reality is that we should not get carried away, particularly in the FA Cup when anything can happen. You don't want to be a shock.

"In many people's eyes Monday would be, 'yes, it's Reading, we have just been to Madrid, it was a great night, Monday will take care of itself'.



"Monday can't take care of itself. We have to take care of that.

"We must get a performance off the players that respects our opponents and also the fact the FA Cup can produce shocks."

Fergie: Expect the unexpected

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he is expecting a tough test in Monday's FA Cup clash with Reading.

Ferguson is expected to ring the changes for the fifth round tie at Old Trafford against a Reading side that has lost just one of their last seven games.

Captain Nemanja Vidic, who was a surprise omission from Ferguson's starting line-up against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, should return at the back as United look to secure a quarter-final place.

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is out for two weeks with a knee injury but Tom Cleverley and Anderson could both face Brian McDermott's men. Other changes may include the return of Javier Hernandez up front with Nani and Ashley Young on the wings.

"Reading are a team who are showing plenty of fighting qualities, as you would expect given they are down near the bottom," said Ferguson.

"We'll take nothing for granted. In the FA Cup you always expect the unexpected. You just hope you're not a casualty or a shock.

"I will make some changes but I don't think the incentive to get to the quarter-final is lost on any of the players.



"There is a good spirit and they're all contributing. Whatever side I pick we're expected to qualify."

Ferguson hails 'excellent' David De Gea

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has heaped praise on goalkeeper David De Gea after his performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

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The Spaniard made a number of fine stops as United earned a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the first leg of their last 16 encounter.



De Gea was bought by United from Real's rivals Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011, and Ferguson is pleased with the 22-year-old's display against his old enemy.



"David was excellent and produced three or four really top saves," Ferguson told BBC Sport. "He's improving all the time.



"I'm pleased for the boy. This is a difficult place to come and we would have taken 1-1 before the game."



Danny Welbeck netted the opener to give United a crucial away goal in the first half, before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled for the hosts against his old club before the break.

Sir Alex wary of Madrid threat

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says the UEFA Champions League is Real Madrid's ultimate goal ahead of Wednesday's last-16 first leg at the Bernabeu.



Los Blancos are currently 16 points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona and have recently slipped up against Granada, Valencia and Osasuna domestically.

With little hope of defending their Spanish crown, Ferguson believes opposite number Jose Mourinho will be determined to steer Real to claiming Europe's top trophy for the first time in 11 years at Wembley in May.

Ferguson said: "I think their target is the European Cup. They got a bad start in the league and were chasing their tail a bit because Barcelona's form has been incredible. I think Jose has set his targets firmly on the European Cup, no doubt about that.

"It can be harder for us but there's a bit of pressure for them too. At this moment in time we're involved in three things. Jose has still got the semi-final of the Copa del Rey, they play Barca next week and then again in a league game before we play them on the Tuesday at Old Trafford. So they've got a big programme themselves.



"You look at English football and say it's a very, very difficult programme and every game is hard but you look at Madrid's programme at the moment and it's also very difficult. Every game is hard."

Fergie: No one-man team

Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected claims that Manchester United are turning into a one-man team.



Much has been made of Robin van Persie's impact since his arrival at Old Trafford last summer, but Ferguson insists there is more to his team than the in-form Dutch striker.

Van Persie has scored 10 goals in his last 10 appearances and earned warm praise from his manager, but Ferguson is anxious to point out that he is not their only threat.

"I don't go along with the idea we have become a one-man team," Ferguson told United Review.

"There was a time in our history when one man did carry us for a while. Eric Cantona kept us in contention with his goals when a few others were off the boil.

"But things are quite different now. Javier Hernandez has weighed in with 12 goals while Wayne Rooney is currently on nine.

"Two defenders, Johnny Evans and Patrice Evra, have chipped in with eight between them so it doesn't stand up to see us as a one-man band overly dependent on van Persie, brilliant as he has been at both making and taking goals.

"He is absolutely relishing his new challenge. He is the right player, at the right club, at the right time.



"He has a winning mentality, but as he points out, it is one that goes right through the squad and one that will hopefully see us push on in both league and the cups and successfully navigate what is a busy and challenging period."


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Ronaldo now the complete player

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has described Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as 'the complete player'.



The 27-year-old is due to make his first return to Old Trafford next month, when the two clubs face each other in the Champions League and Ferguson says the Portugal international has improved since leaving England.



"Maturity brings many things," he told Inside United.



"When I went to see them play against (Manchester) City, some of his decision-making in terms of passing was brilliant. One-touch passing, good crosses.



"In the six years we had him, you just saw his game grow all the time, and he was a fantastic player.



"Now you see the complete player.



"His decision-making, his maturity, his experience, plus all the great skills he has got, they all make him the complete player."



Manchester United travel to Spain for the first leg on February 13 before entertaining Madrid at Old Trafford on March 5 and Ferguson is looking forward to the games.



"Obviously you hope that when you draw Real Madrid it's in the final," he said.



"It will be a big, big event - we're the two most high-profile clubs in the world and I think they will be great games."