Sir Alex Aims To Stay Ahead

Sir Alex Ferguson says it's vital United remain in front of Manchester City in the coming weeks, now that months of chasing top spot have paid off.

The Reds' 1-0 triumph over Fulham on Monday night secured a three-point advantage over Manchester City. And even if the Blues beat Sunderland at home on Saturday, the reigning champions will regain top spot at the end of this round of fixtures if defeat is avoided at Blackburn on Monday night.

"Hopefully we can remain there but we also know that football can turn on you and bite you," Sir Alex told reporters on Thursday. "We have a small advantage, it’s not a great advantage; it can be changed in one game. We just have to take each game as it comes along, it’s the only thing we can do.

"Once the Fulham game was over the focus was on Monday night [at Blackburn] and after that it’s the game against Queens Park Rangers. That’s the way we need to handle it."

Experience of going the distance so many times is something that the manager believes will, as ever, stand his team in good stead for the season's finale.

"Most of the players have had the experience... Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Rooney," added Sir Alex. "There are some of the young ones that aren’t accustomed to it like Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young, David De Gea, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. You've got the likes of Fabio and Rafael who have been involved for two or three years so they’re used to it; both have been in European final squads as well. They gather experience that way. It hopefully helps them in the run-in.

"I think Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes and Carrick help in that situation. If they were to lose their nerve then we would be in trouble! But I don’t expect that, I think they’re well accustomed to it."

Jones' Title Dream

Phil Jones says he joined United to experience days such as the one at Ewood Park last season when the Reds won a record 19th title.

Jones was part of the Blackburn team who drew 1-1 with United last May which ensured Sir Alex's men were crowned champions.

The defender is hoping for a repeat scenario this season and three points at Ewood on Monday night would be another important step towards that.

[The scenes at Blackburn last season] are exactly why I left," he told ManUtd.com.

"I have fond memories from my time at Blackburn and there are some wonderful people at the club. But I wanted to win trophies and become part of a team with a massive history, which United have.

"To lift that trophy at the end of the season would be a wonderful achievement for me.

"No game is easy in the Premier League," he added. "The teams we have got coming up are scrapping for their lives. They will all be difficult games.

"It is nice to be top but we can't keep looking at the table because we have a long way to go before we are anywhere near to picking up that trophy. Hopefully we will get the three points on Monday night."

Jones says he spoke to a few of his old team-mates at Rovers earlier this month ahead of next week's clash and while they still remain dangerously close to the dropzone, he is pleased to see they have turned things around and given themselves a chance of survival.

"They had a really tricky start to the season and Steve Kean got a lot of stick and came under a lot of pressure," recalls Jones. "He deserves a lot of credit - you don't hear a lot about Blackburn or their manager these days. He has turned it around.

"He has got the players working the way he wants them. They have picked up a few victories lately and we need to be aware of that going into the game.

"I remember the build-up before United games," he adds. "Through the week it's all about pressing and how you can stop them from playing. It will be no different this week. They will be getting their tactics sorted. We need to be right at the top of our game to overcome that.

"It will be a difficult match but I'm sure if we approach it in the right frame of mind we will take the three points."

Phil was talking to ManUtd.com, PA Sport and BBC Radio.

Title Chase Thrills Cleverley

Tom Cleverley is "as excited as everyone else" by the prospect of a title chase in his first full Barclays Premier League season as a United player.

In an exclusive interview for MUTV’s Countdown to Kick Off, Cleverley said of his bid to collect a first winner's medal: "That is what we’re at this club to do."

Meanwhile, two of Tom's fellow midfielders are already into double figures where titles are concerned - namely Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

"It gives us, the young players, confidence when you know you have players with 15 to 20 years' experience playing next to you," Cleverley admitted.

After returning to the first-team fold as an unused substitute against Fulham, Tom hopes to feature in the final eight league games, starting at Blackburn on Monday. He recognises there is little margin for error, especially with the presence of local rivals Manchester City providing extra intensity in this title race.

"It does seem to increase the pressure a little bit with City being involved. But we know if we win every game from now until the end of the season, the title is ours."

United: Built To Last The Course

No club in the Premier League era can match United’s know-how in finishing a season strongly - and there are plenty of reasons for optimism in this run-in…

The young and restless

The fresh-faced verve that underpinned United’s fast start to the season could prove integral if the Reds are going to muster a sprint for the line. Sir Alex’s squad remains imbued with vitality, an energy possessed in spades by the youthful; one that, properly harnessed, can make this an unforgettable climax to a topsy-turvy campaign. The desire to do so, according to Danny Welbeck, burns brightly in the United dressing room.

“I don’t think anybody understands how hungry we are for this title,” says the striker. “We’re lucky to be in this position but it is hard work and we want to fulfil our dreams, win the title and keep winning and keep winning. There’s nothing going to stop us.” Welbeck has embodied United’s campaign; conducting himself with skill, desire and increasing street smarts as the harsh lessons of top-level football have accumulated by the game.

Now, as the stakes rise, the Longsight lad and his fellow fledglings are relishing the chance to win their first domestic crown. “These are exciting times, definitely,” he says. “Going out every weekend and playing in these games, there’s nothing better than that. It’s so exciting and you just want to win so badly. I think you’ve got to be confident within yourselves to know that once you come to these games, you’re going to win.”

The undiluted enthusiasm with which the Reds’ youngsters are pounding the home straight carries an infectious excitement.

Men at the barricades

Composed influences are vital to steer United’s youngsters on the right side of the fine line between excitement and impulsiveness, especially in defence. As the squad’s most-decorated defenders, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are well-qualified to steady the ship, while Jonny Evans, at 24, has emerged victorious from two title run-ins at Old Trafford and played a key role in Sunderland’s promotion of 2006/07. Of the Reds’ first-team defenders, only Phil Jones is yet to sample such top-of-the-table rigours. “We’re in a good position,” says Rio. “We’ve been here before and have the experience and nerve to know what it takes to win it.”

The injury-enforced fluidity of United’s selections in defence this term has mercifully eased in recent weeks, allowing a familiarity to build between the backline and their goalkeeper, David De Gea. The Spaniard’s strong mentality helped him withstand the forensic scrutiny of his first few months in English football, and his recent spell of sterling form augurs well for the coming months. He is relishing the challenge of commanding his senior cohorts.

“To order men like Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand around is not easy for a rookie like me,” says De Gea. “But they are very professional and tell me the goalkeeper is the owner of the area and accept what I say.”

After a whirlwind spell of upheaval in the first half of the season, harmony has broken out in a crucial area of the United set-up – and at a vital time.

Middle-game masters

If you’re looking for experience and know-how, you’ll find it in United’s engine room. Serial silverware collectors Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick have amassed 26 league medals between them and, more than ever this term, have shown their knack for stepping up when all appears lost.

Take last month’s at-the-death win at Norwich: Giggs snatched an invaluable victory by despatching Ashley Young’s cross, but prior to the move’s denouement, it was Scholes and Carrick who were patiently playing the ball from side-to-side, probing and waiting for the right moment. The latter – a comparative pup at just 30 – has been involved in sprints for the line in each of his previous five seasons with the Reds, and he knows that now is no time to be getting carried away.

“We are satisfied with the situation we are in,” says Carrick. “But just because we have come through a tough two months doesn’t mean we will sail through the next two. We are not getting carried away or taking anything for granted. We know how quickly it can come back and bite us.”

This season’s added subplot of duelling with local rivals for the title isn’t lost on Carrick, but he insists the ultimate motivation remains unchanged.

“Since I have been here, we have always been up against someone, whether that is two teams or three,” Carrick says. “With it being City and so local, it develops into something different. At the same time, it's about winning games and focusing on ourselves.”

Wing commanders

Rudimentary maths tells us that three into two doesn’t go, but the availability of Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young would provide Sir Alex with a delightfully difficult choice of weapons for the remainder of the campaign.

The trio of pacy wingers have all enjoyed sparkling form at various stages of the season, only to be hampered by injury. Since December’s thumping win at Fulham, the three have only featured together in one matchday squad.

Young began his United career in sensational fashion before picking up an assortment of niggling knocks. Valencia missed pre-season, then deputised at full-back until mid-October before playing his way into stunning form either side of the turn of the year. His return from a hamstring injury will provide United with a rampaging power down the right flank, while Nani’s latest comeback can also prove pivotal. The Portuguese trickster has averaged almost a goal in every three starts this term, but has also been sidelined by a bruised foot in recent weeks after sustaining an ankle knock in January’s win at Arsenal.

“It has been difficult to get the consistency,” Nani admits. “I am getting there but I need more minutes. I will work hard to come back because we need every player. All the players that have been injured – to have them back for the squad is great for the manager. There are so many top players in the squad and if you’ve got plenty to pick from it can only do us good for the run-in for the rest of the season.”

Having Nani and his fellow fliers available will provide a supply line ripe for the picking.

The talisman

In the Barclays Premier League, only City can match United’s assortment of striking riches, yet United have the edge in the colossal influence of Wayne Rooney.

The Reds’ no.10 has plundered goals galore this season – hitting an especially rich vein of form in recent weeks – and is dictating United’s attacking tempo while also seeing to the all-important task of putting the ball in the onion bag.

For the Blues, Sergio Aguero has excelled as a penalty area predator, Mario Balotelli has largely channelled his considerable talents into finishing off approach play and Edin Dzeko remains an aerial threat despite his sporadic form since October.

The closest City have to Rooney in terms of team-wide influence, though, is saviour-turned-outcast-turned-potential-saviour, Carlos Tevez. Whether he can return and relieve the creative burden on David Silva could be critical to City’s chances.

Rooney, meanwhile, has demonstrated his ability to play with each of his striking partners – Chicharito, Dimitar Berbatov and, most regularly this term, Danny Welbeck – taking the creative lead in each partnership to demonstrate his growing seniority.

“When I was a young lad we might have been losing a game 1-0 or 2-1 and I’d have been saying ‘just put the ball in the box’ and panicking a bit about losing the game,” he says. “Now I’m older and more experienced you know how to just keep playing your game because there’s always a chance you’ll get an opportunity to score.” Blues be warned: he makes them and he takes them.

Knight watchman

Thankfully, the one man everybody would like in their dugout at this stage of the season still occupies the home bench at OT. Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to clinch a 13th English league title in the coming weeks, and he’s seen it all before, with every conceivable twist and turn. Be it shock results, injuries, suspensions or any other hindrance, he’s ready. “We won’t get nervous,” Sir Alex says ominously.

Even last season, when his evolving side struggled to cope with the demands of playing away in the Premier League, the boss calmly steered his side to a nine-point triumph over perennial challengers Chelsea. This year has arguably been an even greater feat. Allowing his fresh-faced side to learn on the job with help from some wise old heads, he has guided the Reds through a hair-tearing spate of injuries to remain firmly in contention despite the form of Roberto Mancini’s Blues.

A fortnight ago, with the finish line in sight, Sir Alex used his United Review column to enlist the choral backing of the Red Army. “I’m calling for a combined effort of players and supporters to get us to the line with winning form on our own ground,” he wrote. “Our crowd can make a big difference.” He, and we, should know.

Smalling Hails Squad Resilience

Chris Smalling believes the way the Reds have dealt with injury adversity this season says it all about the determination to succeed in the current squad.

The defender jokes that the Reds have "probably had enough injuries for most of the teams in this league" over the course of the campaign.

For the first time in a long time Sir Alex has a virtually fully fit squad, bar long-term absentees Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher. Anderson, Nani and Michael Owen are still working on their recovery from set-backs although the latter pair were due to return to training this week.

Smalling says the players have never let injury set-backs get them down and has praised Sir Alex's selection planning as being key to sustaining a challenge in the title race.

[Our position in the league despite all the injuries] says a lot about Manchester United," Smalling told ManUtd.com.

"No matter the adverse conditions we have, whether it be injuries or a tough run of games, we tend to strive through. You’ve seen the team do that over the years, even before I came to the club.

"The manager deserves a lot of credit for that with regard to how he approaches games and uses his players.

"We’ve probably had enough injuries for most of the teams in this league! Luckily though we’re still where we are and have shown we have the squad to be able to cope. Everyone is coming back at a crucial time."

The Reds will be aiming to maintain their advantage - currently three points - over rivals Manchester City with victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park on Monday night.

United are well-schooled in the trials and tribulations of tight title races, but Smalling admits this year's has an extra edge due to City's involvement.

"It definitely means more because it’s City," he added. "The media build it up and us as players definitely want to win it especially as we know quite a few of their players.

"It’s going to be crucial for whoever gets those bragging rights for the next year."

Chris was talking to ManUtd.com, PA Sport and Key 103.

Lindegaard Takes A Break

Anders Lindegaard is likely to be available for Manchester United before the end of the season, despite taking an enforced rest from his recovery process.

Some reports claimed the Danish goalkeeper would miss the remainder of the run-in with an ankle injury but Sir Alex is hopeful that Lindegaard will soon be able to resume his battle with David De Gea for a starting spot.

"Anders was training very well," stated the boss on Friday. "And maybe he overdid it.

"We've given him a week off, a rest period for a week, and he should be back before the end of the season."

Macheda Returns To United

Queens Park Rangers' on-loan striker Federico Macheda is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

Macheda has returned to parent club Manchester United for treatment on the problem after struggling to make an impact at Loftus Road.

The Italian was signed at the start of the January transfer window by former QPR boss Neil Warnock and has been unable to impress under his successor Mark Hughes.

The current QPR manager signed Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse before the transfer deadline and that has seen Macheda slip out of the picture in West London.

He made six appearances in all competitions, but had not featured for the Rs since a brief substitute's outing in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa at the start of February.

The 20-year-old also allegedly criticised Hughes on Twitter earlier this month after he was left out of the 18-man squad for the 1-1 draw with Everton.

Prior to joining QPR on loan, Macheda had featured six times for United this season, but he has yet to build on his stunning start to his Old Trafford career.

Macheda scored decisive goals on his first two appearances for the Red Devils three years ago and will now have to wait until next season for another chance to establish himself.

Law Admires Boss & Scholes

Denis Law spoke exclusively to ManUtd.com at the recent Lunch with Legends function at Old Trafford...

The manager says you were his favourite player, that must be high praise..
I think I paid him a few quid as well [laughs]. No, he's the same age-bracket so he probably remembers it.

And would you like to return the compliment about his managerial ability?
He will probably go down as the greatest manager ever when he eventually retires, whenever that will be!

Are you pleased to see Paul Scholes back in the team?
Well, I thought he retired too soon. He's got another couple of seasons in him and the way he plays, he's one of my favourites now. He's a lovely player and it would have been really good to play alongside him.

Do you get to see many games these days?
I don't really, no. I'm not really a football watcher. I watch a little bit but never too much. I enjoyed playing but I'm not really good at watching. Of course I keep up-to-date and Manchester is a fantastic place to be at the moment. Whether you're a United supporter or City, it's going to be a race until the end. I can't see anyone else coming into the equation.

But are you already looking forward to the derby later in the season?
Well, we're always on TV somewhere along the line. I'm not a great watcher but I do watch the occasional game.

And your son is a City fan isn't he?
Yes, we have a City fan in the family. He's had a bad time for many years so he's having a wee bit of success.

Of course, in your career you also had a spell abroad in Serie A. How was that?
Well, first of all we [he moved to Torino with Joe Baker] didn't know a great deal about European football in those days. It's not like today. And, to be fair, we were too young. Guys of the same age today as we were then are far more experienced and more advanced at 21 or 22. We were going to a foreign country and playing different football. Well, in saying that, it was a great experience and it did me a lot of good when I came back to United.

And we have the opposite situation here with a number of young Italians (Petrucci, Macheda, Massacci, Fornasier) coming to Manchester. Do you think it must be hard for them?
Yes, not too much the football game itself but it's the life. It's the fact that you live in a city where your friends aren't here, there's different food and different culture. The game itself is the easy part, though.

Title Race: Game By Game

With eight games to play, we can say with some certainty that the Barclays Premier League trophy will end up in Manchester. Rather less clear, however, is which colour ribbons will adorn it.

As things stand, United sit in pole position, three points clear. But by the time the Reds next kick a ball, City could well have wrestled back the advantage. That sort of see-saw scenario - one team pulling ahead, the other regaining ground - could be repeated a number of times between now and the end of the season. And whoever plays first tends to have an advantage: after all, they can set the pace and pile on the pressure.

Here we cast an eye over each team's remaining fixtures to see where the title race may be won or lost...

Sat 31 Mar - City v Sunderland (15:00) | Mon 2 Apr - Blackburn v United (20:00)
City play a full two days before United this weekend and will be looking for a 16th straight win at home this season; the Etihad has been a fortress in 2011/12. Despite never having recorded a win on City’s patch in the Premier League, Sunderland will be buoyed by their dramatic 1-0 win over the Blues at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day. Meanwhile, the Reds need to stop the rot at Ewood Park: we’ve won just two of our last 11 games there.

Sun 8 Apr - United v QPR (13:30) | Sun 8 Apr - City v Arsenal (16:00)
United's Barclays Premier League record against QPR makes for good reading: played nine, won seven, drawn two. QPR are certainly in need of points in their fight to survive, but Mark Hughes’ men have won just three on the road this term and lost 10 of their 15 away games. Hot on the heels of United's game finishing at Old Trafford, all eyes will be trained on the Emirates where City meet in-form Arsenal. The Blues have not won in the league at the Gunners’ home since October 1975, although they did manage a 1-0 victory in the Carling Cup back in November.

Wed 11 Apr - Wigan v United (19:45) | Wed 11 Apr - City v West Brom (19:45)
On paper, United are odds-on to pick up three points at Wigan, having won each of the 14 competitive matches against the Latics. Like the Reds, though, Wigan need points. But with only one league win at the DW Stadium (and the league's worst home scoring record), it looks an uphill task. On the same night, at the same time, City host West Brom, a side the Blues have beaten just twice in five games at home. The Baggies have been excellent on the road this season with six wins, but results all-round have dipped of late.

Sat 14 Apr - Norwich v City (12:45) | Sun 15 Apr - United v Villa (16:00)
City play first on this occasion in a lunchtime clash against the Canaries, who were soundly beaten 5-1 at the Etihad in December. Mancini’s men won on their last league trip to Carrow Road 3-2, in 2005, and while Norwich have hit a bit of sticky patch in the league recently, they've only lost once at home in the league – to us – since December. United, meanwhile, play host to Villa 24 hours later – a team that's managed just one win at Old Trafford in their last 27 attempts. Phil Jones’ first Reds goal was the difference between the sides at Villa Park earlier this term.

Sat 22 Apr - United v Everton (16:00) | Sat 22 Apr - Wolves v City (16:00)
With the matches kicking off simultaneously, both sets of fans will be anxious to know what’s happening elsewhere. United play host to Everton, a side who have won just once at Old Trafford in their last 20 visits, while City face a trip to Wolves. On paper that looks like an easy fixture for Mancini’s men (and the Blues did win 5-2 there in the Carling Cup earlier this season), but Wolves have come out on top in two of the last three league fixtures at Molineux.

Mon 20 Apr - City v United (20:00)
The biggest Manchester derby ever? It’s a label that’s been attached to plenty of United-City fixtures in recent years but this time it might actually be true. There’s the potential for this game to act as a title decider and United fans couldn’t dream of a better place to win the league. But City’s home record is seriously impressive... although the Reds did win there in the FA Cup in January. This one’s too close to call.

Sun 6 May - United v Swansea (14:00) | Sun 6 May - Newcastle v City (14:00)
Sir Alex’s men welcome a promoted side (albeit a Swansea outfit who have earned plenty of plaudits) to Old Trafford while Manchester City are forced to make what’s traditionally one of the trickier trips in the league. Newcastle, on their day, are one of the best footballing sides in the country and in Demba Ba and Papa Cisse possess two of the league’s form forwards. You do have to go back five seasons, however, to find the last time Newcastle beat City at St James’ Park.

Sun 13 May - City v QPR (15:00) | Sun 13 May - Sunderland v United (15:00)
Will the title race be over by the time the final day rolls around? If not, City will certainly fancy their chances of beating relegation-threatened QPR at home, despite having to come from behind to claim three points against the Londoners back in November. United, meanwhile, may need to grind out a win against a Sunderland side who have already beaten Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal (FA Cup) at home this term. The Reds’ last result at the Stadium of Light: a drab 0-0 draw.

Chicharito Excited By Run-in

Javier Hernandez is anticipating a thrilling end to the season and the chance to help United secure a 20th league title.

The Reds are three points clear at the top with eight games left and there will be plenty of fingernail-biting in both halves of Manchester over the coming weeks.

But Chicharito says this is no time for nerves for him or anyone else in the United camp.

"It’s a part of the season that all the players want to be involved in," the Mexican striker told ESPN. "It’s a long season so these final few games are more emotional for everyone, but we have a big chance to win the Premier League again.

"We’re in a great position because it depends on us – if we win all our games, we’ll win the league. We’re not in Europe so we’ll probably be a little bit fitter, because we’re only playing each weekend and have long weeks to rest and prepare for each game."

Sir Alex believes Hernandez’s recent brace against Wolves, which took his tally to 12 for the season, augurs well for the rest of the campaign.

The boss wrote in United Review: "Chicharito got a couple that he needed to bring back his confidence – and a confident Hernandez could be a winner for the closing stages."

Hernandez is just focused on improving each day so that he’s ready to play his part when called upon in the run-in.

"I want to be a world-class player, so I need to work on every aspect of my game: my movement, goals and body strength, because I’m not the tallest or the strongest," the 23-year-old added.

"I need to be ready to compete in this tough league because it’s very physical, quick and technical. With the help of the coaches and my team-mates, I’m improving day by day.

"I do my best and if the manager wants me to play one minute or 90 minutes, I need to be ready to help the team."

Evans' End Goal In Sight

Fresh from netting his first ever senior strike, Jonny Evans tells United Review he has his sights firmly set on fulfilling his main aim of the campaign – another title triumph...

Have you come down from the high of scoring your first United goal yet at Wolves earlier this month?
[Laughs] I’ve had a constant smile on my face ever since! There had been a lot of banter about me not scoring because it had gone on for so long. Every time I’d gone up for a corner I’d try my hardest to score and got close a few times. But this time I was more relaxed and suddenly the ball fell to me six yards out and it went in.

How many times have you watched it?
[Laughs] I don’t want to say! Quite a lot but only because it’s kept popping up on TV.

How much of a relief is it – did you worry it would never come?
A few weeks ago someone showed me a list of players who have played for the club and never scored and the number of appearances they’d made and I was about sixth on the list! [Laughs] So from that point of view it’s a relief.

Did the goal cap a great run of form in the league for both the team and you personally?
Yeah, definitely. Going on a run is what we always set out to do especially during the second half of the season. We’ve been going into every game feeling like we’re never going to lose. That self-belief is something we’ve always had at the club and we really believe we can win every game.

You’ve been one of United’s most consistent performers – what do you attribute that to?
I think I’ve just concentrated on playing football the way I know how. Over the last couple of years I was trying to do things on the pitch that weren’t me, like getting into physical battles when I’m not really one of the strongest defenders physically. I’ve always been more of a reader of the game and I think I maybe let that slip out of my own game. So I basically just went back and looked at what I was good at and concentrated on the things that came naturally to me.

The manager recently hailed your quality at bringing the ball out of defence – is that something you’ve worked particularly hard on?
I think it’s always been a big strength of my game right from when I was a kid. I always thought it was a good attribute I could bring to the team but when I first broke in the main thing I wanted to do was concentrate on my defending. I thought if I did that well for a couple of years then the other things [like distribution] would come and this season I think I’ve managed to combine both.

With Chris Smalling’s emergence and the arrival of Phil Jones, did you always feel this season was going to be an important one for you?
Every season here is important. If you let your standards drop you won’t be here for long because the standards set by the manager, the coaches, the players and the fans are so high. Everyone has periods in their career when they have dips in form and I’m no different. It’s just about accepting that and trying to do something about it. That’s what I’ve done.

It must be nice to get recognition for your displays outside the club…
I’m not bothered about recognition to be honest. I’ve learnt in recent years how recognition can easily go out of the window; it doesn’t last forever. I just go out there and try to enjoy my football and do my best. I don’t pay attention to anything else outside.

Finally, is the desire to win the title this season even greater given who are nearest challengers are?
There is always a desire no matter who is challenging. It’s not just about Manchester City or whichever team is challenging, it’s about you wanting to create more history at Manchester United. You want to be able to look back and be proud on what you’ve achieved. I’m sure when you look back you’ll forget who was challenging you because it all comes down to what trophies you win. Hopefully we can win another in May.

Boss: We Have A Great Chance

Sir Alex Ferguson has told MUTV he is a firm believer that 1-0 victories are the hallmark of champions.

The Reds' capacity to grind out wins is legendary and the manager was delighted with a clean sheet from the 1-0 triumph against Fulham on Monday night. Although joking about the supporters' nerves fraying at Old Trafford, he is convinced that United have the temperament required to go all the way again in 2012 and clinch a 20th title.

"That's the way it's going to be and we may as well get used to it," he said about the tension as the clock ticked down at the Theatre of Dreams. "How many times have I said to you about 1-0? What does it mean? It means championship form.

"I don't mind the 1-0s, I really don't because it tells you we are determined, we're going to defend, do the right things and play as a team like we had to on Monday night."

When it was suggested that the match against the Cottagers was never going to be as easy as some had hoped, he replied: "I know that. You know that. The experienced players know that. The crowd still don't know that and they've been watching us for 100 years! They still get nervous when we're not finishing teams off but we should've finished them off."

A three-point lead means United are on course to make history again come May but the manager is taking nothing for granted.

"I'd take it at any time in the season," he said about the difference at the top. "When you look back a few months ago, we were seven points behind [Manchester] City. The area where we are concerned is goal difference but winning is obviously important and, if we keep winning, we have a great chance."

Giggs Relishing Run-in

Ryan Giggs is enjoying the title chase and feels 1-0 victories like the one secured against Fulham could prove crucial.

The midfielder has lifted the trophy 12 times after being involved in numerous run-ins and won't be losing any sleep over the manner of success on Monday night as the Cottagers ensured nobody at Old Trafford could relax.

"You'd take 1-0s to the end of the season now," he told MUTV afterwards. "If we'd scored in the last minute, everyone would be euphoric and buzzing but obviously, the way the game ended, with some sloppy play and not keeping the ball, everyone's a bit disappointed. Rightly so because we know what we're capable of but, overall, we're pleased to get the three points."

Giggs is delighted that the Reds have overtaken Manchester City and is relishing being involved in yet another title scrap.

"Our form has been really good," he added. "It's probably another reason why it was a bit frustrating tonight as we've been playing really well.

"It was a massive effort but we knew we had to do it. City were there to be caught. We had some tough games but we've got through them and, now we can see the finishing line, hopefully we can finish the job off. As a footballer, you want to enjoy these times and you want to be involved in title chases and games like tonight. I'm sure there will be more twists and turns to come."

As for Danny Murphy's penalty claim after he was felled by Michael Carrick inside the box late on, Giggs had a similar view to referee Michael Oliver.

"I mean I was right behind the referee and I didn't think it was a penalty," he asserted. "Looking back at the replays, maybe it could have been but it happens. We had a penalty here against Newcastle that wasn't. They tend to even themselves out over the course of the season and perhaps that's what has happened here."

Evans: A Crucial Win

Jonny Evans admits United did not hit their usual heights at Old Trafford in the 1-0 win over Fulham, but says victory was all that mattered.

Evans set up Wayne Rooney to fire home what turned out to be the winner against the Cottagers on 42 minutes.

But despite dominating possession for the most part, the Reds were unable to add to their tally thanks to some heroic defending from the visitors and some excellent saves from goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

"It's a great result for us but we're a bit disappointed with the performance," he told MUTV and Sky Sports.

"It would have been nice to get more goals but looking back on the game I think we just have to be delighted with the three points, especially as the performance we put in probably wasn't up to our usual standard.

"Things were a bit nervy towards the end - we gave away a few free-kicks and invited a bit of pressure onto ourselves.

"The fans were getting a bit restless and you could feel it in the atmosphere. We maybe needed a bit of composure and to take the easy pass rather than the hard one. But we defended well in the situations we found ourselves in and managed to grind out a victory which puts us top of the league again."

The Reds survived a late penalty shout when Michael Carrick appeared to clip the heels of Danny Murphy in the area, but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved.

"You have a quick look towards the referee, but he's waved it away. I haven't seen it back again but he could have given the penalty," admitted Evans.

The win sent United three points clear of fellow title chasers City with just eight games remaining.

"We just have to keep playing our own game and concentrate on picking up points," added the defender. "We've got a good record away from home and when we play at home we always expect to get the three points."

Tight Win's A Warning

Sir Alex believes the tense 1-0 victory over Fulham was a "great game" for the champions because it will act as a warning for the remainder of the run-in.

The Reds will face similar battles against determined opponents in the weeks to come and, despite the experience of the side, a wake-up call could prove useful with the three points safely banked. After moving three points clear at the Barclays Premier League summit, the manager was happy to take the positives from a difficult evening.

"The matches are all challenges," he told Sky Sports. "That's a great indication. It was a great game for us tonight because that's exactly what it's going to be like for the rest of the season. Teams are going to be battling and fighting, trying to survive, and not be lambs to the slaughter to Manchester United because they don't want to be seen to be laying down.

"Fulham put in a massive effort tonight. They're a very experienced team and were very difficult to break down. When you sit back, it doesn't matter if you've got 11 plumbers, joiners or footballers, it's hard to break down. We did enough to finish the game off but didn't do it and nearly paid the penalty."

Penalty was a word on everybody of a Fulham persuasion's lips after Danny Murphy was sent tumbling inside the box in the closing stages by Michael Carrick. Referee Michael Oliver failed to point to the spot and Sir Alex felt another clear shout in the first half, for the hosts, may have been playing on the official's mind.

"I think they had a claim," added the boss. "No doubt.

"I think we had a claim for clear handball in the first half, maybe it was close to the attacker but it was a claim and Patrice Evra thought it was stonewall as he handled the ball going into the penalty box and denied an opportunity.

"Maybe the referee was thinking about that, certainly Carrick caught Murphy's heel as he's come back. But we deserved that [fortune] because we completely dominated the game until the last 15 minutes."

Sir Alex felt his team were a little tired, despite having a blank week, but felt three players performed particularly well in helping to get the important victory.

"It's the result for us tonight and the three points is what we're after," he added. "I thought, for an hour, we played very well. The passing was quick, decisive and we made some decent opportunities but credit to Fulham.

"It was a determined defensive performance by them. The problem is when you play teams who sit in their half all game, they've always got something left and they had more than we had in the last 15 minutes. A little bit of tiredness came into our game and we started giving the ball away. They capitalised on that and had a lot of counter-attacks through it.

"Antonio Valencia and Jonny Evans were our best players. Rafael did very, very well also. I think a player like Valencia has got exceptional talent. Some people actually under-rate him. We don't. That's why we bought him. When he's back and in that form, he gives us a big chance."

The manager explained that Rio Ferdinand's injury should not prove too serious, after he was substituted despite the match being precariously balanced towards the end.

"Rio got a bit of stiffness," said Sir Alex. "He gets that, you know, from time to time, the stiffness in his back. So we brought on Chris Smalling as a safeguard.

"If Rio had played it out, he would probably have managed it okay but then not be available for a couple of weeks so I think we've done the right thing at the right time."

Man. United Hold Off Fulham To Go Top

United took three points to go back to the top of the table but were made to fight all the way by obdurate Fulham, who defended manfully throughout and ensured a nervous night at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney's first-half strike proved just about enough but Sir Alex's side were unable to add to the goal and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense in the closing stages with Danny Murphy, so often the scourge of United in the past, perhaps unlucky not to earn a penalty after going down inside the area towards the end.

Although the Reds dominated the early exchanges, the first genuine effort did not arrive until the 11th minute when Ryan Giggs met a Rafael cross with a goalbound header but Mark Schwarzer caught it impressively. With Giggs being asked to play the Paul Scholes role in his fellow veteran's absence, his probing passes were regularly dealt with by the Cottagers' defence.

Gradually, Fulham came more into the game and Moussa Dembele's menacing dribble led to him dragging a shot wide before Clint Dempsey ran at Jonny Evans but shot too close to David De Gea. The Londoners continued to put their bodies on the line at the other end, making a series of fine blocks, and, with the team growing in confidence, Dempsey forced a spectacular diving catch out of De Gea.

Predictably, the Reds responded to the wake-up call through Antonio Valencia but his shot was blocked by John Arne Riise after a one-two with Danny Welbeck. The breakthrough was almost provided by an unlikely source when Patrice Evra's ambitious overhead kick dropped wide and fellow full-back Rafael also had a decent chance but shot tamely at Schwarzer with his left foot.

After a penalty shout for handball against Stephen Kelly was turned down by referee Michael Oliver, the deadlock was broken three minutes before the interval. Ashley Young's dangerous cross went over Brede Hangeland's head and under Riise's studs. Evans pounced to show great awareness to tee up Rooney and the striker gleefully smashed home, immediately acknowledging the Northern Irishman's part in the goal.

Relaxed, the Reds started the second half in complete control but were unable to find another way past Schwarzer. Giggs' excellent pass released Valencia but the Australian keeper saved well, with Riise getting to the rebound first to stab it behind to safety.

Aaron Hughes survived a nervous moment when dealing unconvincingly with a Rafael centre before a trademark curler from Young brought the best out of Schwarzer, who dived to parry. Damien Duff made a vital block as Fulham continued to smother many of the United attacks and Sir Alex decided to shake things up in attack by replacing Welbeck with Javier Hernandez.

The champions kept knocking on the door but Giggs dragged a left-foot attempt well wide and Schwarzer made a superb double stop to keep out Young following a cross from Valencia. When the ball came out to Giggs, Hangeland made yet another vital intervention to keep the visitors within touching distance.

With Rio Ferdinand and matchwinner Rooney substituted as the clock ticked down, the capital club were able to ensure it was nervous finale as Old Trafford grew ever more tense. And there was an almighty scare when substitute Murphy went down under Michael Carrick's challenge towards the end of normal time but Oliver waved 'play on' instead of pointing to the spot. Fittingly, Evans capped an inspirational individual performance by heading away Riise's long throw-in to provide the last act of a game that, while draining, could prove vital in the final reckoning.

Owen Can Play A Part

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to be able to call on the services of Michael Owen in the coming few weeks, insisting the 32-year-old can still make a vital contribution to the Reds’ championship challenge.

The striker has been out of action for nearly five months after sustaining a nasty thigh injury in the Champions League win over Otelul Galati at Old Trafford in November.

It has been a long road back for Owen with Sir Alex revealing that he tried, unsuccessfully, to make a full return to training earlier this month. But after further treatment, the forward is now on course to re-join his team-mates this week.

“He’s certainly making good progress,” confirmed Sir Alex at his press conference on Friday. “What happened was he came back into our training a couple of weeks ago and then after one of the sessions he did some physical work with the sports science team and overdid it. So it knocked him back a few days, but he should be joining us this week.

“If you think about ever needing a player to score an important goal for you is there anyone better than Michael Owen? He will be a really welcome addition to our squad, even if it were to be for the last few games of the season.”

Valencia Unmoved By Plaudits

Antonio Valencia says he is grateful to receive praise from fans and the media but insists he's more interested in helping United win the title this season.

After a four-week spell on the sidelines, Valencia made a triumphant return to action during the Reds’ 5-0 win over Wolves, earning rave reviews for a display that yielded one goal and two assists.

Such was his performance, the Ecuadorian was the clear winner in ManUtd.com’s Man of the Match poll for the Molineux mauling, recording a landslide victory with a whopping 74% of all votes cast.Yet Valencia is keen to play down talk of his best performance in red.

“I don’t look at my individual performances like that,” Antonio told MUTV. “I try and strive for continuous improvement and I am always looking to improve from one game to the next. I think I’ve had plenty of other decent performances for the club, sure.

“If it’s a case of analysing stuff, it’s really down to the manager and the backroom staff to give their opinions on that. It’s just down to me to keep working hard and improving.

“It does make you happy when you hear positive things in the media and from the fans. All you can do, at that point, is be grateful and thank people for that. I suppose it does encourage you to fight even harder to work towards that goal and that goal is obviously to win trophies.

“I’m very happy to be back. I managed to get 90 minutes under my belt against Wolves. It felt good all the way through and it’s good to be playing now until the end of the season, hopefully.”

So far, Valencia has scored five goals in 29 appearances this season, clocking up an incredible 13 assists in the process. What’s more impressive is that 12 of those set-ups were provided in December or the months beyond – when the big players really come to the fore.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former Wigan Athletic winger says he prefers to supply the ammunition over pulling the trigger, though he does admit that his famously stern expression might pave way for a more elaborate celebration, should he ever bag his first United hat-trick or more.

“I get really pleased and full of emotion when I score. But, to be totally truthful, I prefer playing the perfect pass for someone else to score a goal. I like that, it’s a good feeling. I think maybe I’ve got to leave it until I get to three or four goals and then smile more. What I really need to do is learn some kind of dance routine or something!”

Boss: Rio Influence Is Vital

As two of United’s most decorated and longest-serving players, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are obvious role models for the Reds’ budding crop of youngsters, but Sir Alex Ferguson insists Rio Ferdinand’s influence in the dressing room cannot be underestimated either.

It’s a decade this summer since the 33-year-old joined the club and in that time he has played almost 400 games and won medals aplenty.

His experience will be vital in the upcoming weeks as will the consistently high level of performance he continues to produce on the pitch. But it’s his influence off it which Sir Alex cites as being just as crucial.

“I forget Rio’s been here for nearly ten years now. I keep thinking I signed him three or four years ago!” joked the boss.

“He has taken on that role of the influential person in the dressing room. He’s great in the dressing room with the players.

“That’s the advantage you have if you can keep players long enough for the influence to spread. In the modern game, as we know, it’s difficult to keep players for more than five or six years. But the longer they stay here the better the influence spreads to them and they can maybe take over from the older players as they disappear.”

A longstanding back problem, which is continually monitored by United’s medical team, coupled with a series of frustrating niggles in the last couple of years had raised concerns over how long Ferdinand could continue at the top level.

The defender has, however, been back to his best this season and Sir Alex believes close management of his fitness regime and the games he plays will see him carry on playing for a while yet.

“It [Rio’s form] has not surprised me in the sense that he’s still young for a centre-back. In normal terms you would expect a centre-back with his athleticism to play well into their thirties anyway,” explained the boss.

“He’s had the back problem which we all know about so we’ve had to manage that and by managing it properly he has adapted really well to it.

“If you look at the week before last for instance - I didn’t want to play him in Bilbao, but with [Phil] Jones calling off with the flu, I had to and then he played on the Sunday as well [at Wolves]. So he’s adapting really well to the challenge of making sure he is fit and fresh to play in the games we need him.

“What he is doing at the moment [in terms of fitness] is good. He has no issues at all. I think from time to time he gets the odd tweak in his back but we’ll manage that and look after it.”

Fletcher 'Not Ready' For Training

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher says he is not yet ready to return to training due to illness but has been coaching Manchester United's reserves.

The 27-year-old midfielder is currently sidelined with ulcerative collitis, a bowel condition.

"I've been really enjoying the coaching," he told BBC Scotland's Sportscene.

"I'm passing on advice to these players and it also gets me out of the house and keeps me busy."

Last December, Fletcher announced that he was taking an "extended break" from football following medical advice.

His last game was the 2-2 Champions League home draw against Benfica on 22 November, in which he scored.

"I'm feeling okay," Fletcher said. "I'm still not ready to come back playing or training yet but I'm listening to the medical people and trying to get myself right.

"The challenge and the focus is to be ready for next season."

Fletcher said it proved "very difficult" to play with his current condition and that his general health also suffered.

He added: "Me and the medical team decided it'd be best if I tried to get myself right and take an extended period out from the game, then come back fully fit and ready to play.

"It's an unpredictable illness and you don't know what lies ahead of you. But I've got to keep staying strong and keep believing. That's an important side of it - positive thinking.

"I've received great support from everyone in Scotland and down in Manchester. I'm hopeful and really positive that I'll be back and back to my best."

During his enforced absence, Fletcher has been coaching the Manchester United reserves to keep him involved in the game.

"It's always something I've had a keen interest in - coaching and passing on advice to younger players who are at an important level at Manchester United in the reserves.

"The next step is first-team football, so [I'm] passing on advice to these players."

Scotland manager Craig Levein has not given up hope that Fletcher may be available for the start of 2014 World Cup qualifying in September.

Fletcher's career

•Age: 27
•Man Utd appearances: 300
•Man Utd goals: 22
•Scotland appearances: 58
•Scotland goals: 7
•Honours: 4 Premier League titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), 1 FA Cup (2004), 2 League Cups (2006, 2010), 1 Champions League (2008), 1 World Club Cup (2008)
•Debut: v Basel, 12 March, 2003 (Champions League second group stage)
•Most recent game: v Benfica, 22 November, 2011 (Champions League group stage)

Carrick Primed For Title Charge

On the face of it, Paul Pogba's introduction after 58 minutes at Wolves last Sunday didn’t seem in any way unusual.

Indeed, with the Reds already 4-0 up and playing against a team reduced to 10 men, it made perfect sense to hand the promising midfielder another taste of top-flight action.

What was notable about those final 32 minutes, however, was the absence of Michael Carrick. Withdrawn to make way for the young Frenchman, the 30-year-old hadn’t endured a bad day at the office or picked up an injury that required treatment. He was simply given a rest.

And well he might following a marathon run of 1,595 consecutive minutes of Barclays Premier League football, a run spanning 19 fixtures and stretching back more than three months.

Or, to put it another way, between coming on in the closing stages of a narrow home win against Sunderland on 5 November 2011 and trotting off the pitch at Wolves last Sunday, Michael Carrick played every minute of every United league game.

“It’s a lot of football, but it’s always nice to be playing,” he told ManUtd.com when we put the statistic to him this week. “When you get a run of games you get into a good rhythm and you feel confident.

“At the moment my body feels great. I’m feeling fresh and I’m keen to do well in the run-in.”

That run-in is considerably less congested this season than in previous years given United’s early exits from both the Champions League and Europa League competitions.

But if there is a silver lining to be found in those grey clouds, it’s the increased time the Reds squad now has between fixtures.

“Ideally we’d still be in the Champions League and we’d be playing twice a week,” Carrick insisted. “But the way things have gone it means we’ve pretty much only got one game a week now.

“That means we can prepare a lot better for each of those and relax properly after each exertion. Normally we don’t get the opportunity to do that – it’s usually a case of play, recover, play, recover and it’s all done very quickly.

“You’d have to say the situation we’re in now should give us an advantage in that area compared to previous seasons. It will help us be at 100 per cent for each game.”

Ever present
Michael Carrick
5 Nov 2011 to 18 Mar 2012

Consecutive league minutes: 1,595

Attempted passes: 1348
Successful passes: 1214
Pass completion: 90%
Chances created: 20
Assists: 2
Goals: 2

Interceptions: 57
Successful tackles: 40


* League games only

Robson: Man. United Take No Nonsense

Manchester United great Bryan Robson says Sir Alex Ferguson's zero-tolerance approach to unruly players has given his club the edge over Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

According to Robson, City strikers Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli have been allowed to disrupt their team's challenge in a way that Ferguson would never have allowed.

"The Tevez saga, stories of Balotelli's nights outs, Ferguson doesn't allow it to happen in his club," said Robson. "He does man-management really well. That could be the biggest difference."

City are one point behind leaders United with nine games of the season remaining.

Roberto Mancini's side were five points clear earlier in the season but remain in contention after coming from 1-0 down to beat Chelsea 2-1 on Wednesday.

Tevez played in that game, returning to the City team for the first time in six months following a major falling-out with Mancini.

As for fellow striker Balotelli, another controversial figure at City, he was fined a week's wages earlier in March for breaking a club curfew for the second time this season.

Robson contrasts Mancini's handling of the pair with Ferguson's hardline approach towards Wayne Rooney, who was fined and dropped after under-performing in training following a night out.

Although United then lost at home to bottom-of-the-league Blackburn, Robson says Ferguson sent out an important message to the rest of the squad by leaving out one of his most influential players.

"You look at certain managers," said Robson, speaking ahead of the Soccerex European Forum to be held in Manchester next week. "And you wonder, would they have left Rooney out?

"Ferguson had millions of injuries for that game - he was fielding a depleted team - but he still decided to leave Wayne out.

"The boss has shown that it doesn't matter how good you are, you are not going to get away with it."

The episode led to speculation that Rooney would be sold by United, but Robson, a club ambassador, insists the relationship between manager and player is in good health.

"Wayne is a strong character, which the manager has always liked," said Robson, who helped United win the Premier League in 1993 and 1994 to mark the end of an illustrious 13 years at the club.

"He is never afraid to get strong characters in his dressing room. If a player wants to stand up and have his say, the manager will always allow you to do that. But, at the end of the day, it will be his decision."

Robson also said stories of divisions in the City camp would have boosted the United players.

"You like it because, in a dressing room, you want a bond," he said. "I know for a fact that, as a player, the better you get on with your team-mates, the better you will do for each other on a match day."

Although convinced the title is United's to lose, Robson is not ruling out City and believes the derby at Etihad Stadium on 30 April will have a major impact on the outcome.

Even if City win, however, Robson says the club's immense wealth will dilute Mancini's achievement in many people's eyes.

"The Man City job is a no-win situation," he said. "If Roberto Mancini wins the league this year, everyone will say he had £300m to spend on players and their set-up is unbelievable.

"If he fails people will say 'How can you fail with that type of money?'"

Vidic: We Are Title Favourites

Nemanja Vidic is confident he will watch United win a twentieth league title in the next seven weeks.

The club captain, currently eyeing a personal comeback from injury in July, told ManUtd.com he fancies the Reds' chances of staging a celebration in May. The Serbian says the nine fixtures in front of United are favourable and he draws further confidence from the spirit in the squad.

"If you look at the schedule of the games we have left to play I would like to say we are the favourites," said Vidic in our exclusive live webchat.

"We still have to win the nine games and we need to be focused. I would say we have nine Champions League final games now. But it's all in our hands. We have to focus and give our best.

"All the players are ready to perform which is a good sign and a positive thing for the nine games ahead. We have the confidence - we've had the belief from the beginning [of this season]."

Nine games to go

Manchester United
26 March: Fulham (H)
2 April: Blackburn (A)
8 April: QPR (H)
11 April: Wigan (A)
15 April: Aston Villa (H)
22 April: Everton (H)
30 April: Man City (A)
6 May: Swansea (H)
13 May: Sunderland (A)

Manchester City
24 March: Stoke (A)
31 March: Sunderland (H)
8 April: Arsenal (A)
11 April: West Brom (H)
14 April: Norwich (A)
22 April: Wolves (A)
30 April: United (H)
6 May: Newcastle (A)
13 May: QPR (H)

Ferdinand Focused On Top Prize

Rio Ferdinand is looking for Manchester United to make the most of their lofty standing and enjoy a faultless finish to the season.

The reigning Premier League champions have put themselves in pole position to defend their crown with just nine games of the season remaining.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side, having played catch-up for much of the campaign, hold a narrow one-point lead over arch-rivals Manchester City.

Ferdinand admits it is now up to the players to ensure that there are no late wobbles, with a 20th top flight title within their reach.

"We're in the position at the minute that we want to be," he told Sky Sports News HD.

"We want to be top at this stage of the season, but more importantly we want to remain there until the end of the season.

"I think this is a vital period, each game is a must-win game. At the moment, if we win all of our remaining games until the end of the season, we will be champions. That's what we're going out to do."

United hope their vast experience of title chasing will play into their hands, with Ferdinand revealing that the club's desire to be the best burns as bright as ever.

Asked for the secrets behind the club's success, he added: "Maybe experience and the desire that comes from the manager.

"He wants to win and he has been here 20-plus years, so if he still wants to win, why can't people who have been here 10, five, two years, one year? They have got to have the same belief and fire in their belly to want to achieve that as well.

"We've left ourselves in a position where we are going to be a couple of points behind or on top. Right now we are top and we have got to finish it off.

"There is no better feeling at the end of the season than sitting there and knowing you have got a winners' medal hanging around your neck. Those are the memories that you think about and drive you on to achieve things and try to be a part of this club's history."

Vidic On Course For July Return

Nemanja Vidic has revealed he is on course for a summer return during an exclusive webchat with ManUtd.com.

Answering fans' questions at Carrington, the United skipper discussed a wide variety of topics but also delivered a positive bulletin on his fitness following a knee operation in December. Vidic suffered cruciate knee ligament damage against Basel and will not be rushed back before the end of the season.

"It's going well," he told ManUtd.com about his recovery. "Obviously the projection was I would be ready for the next season. I am on schedule and will hopefully start training again in July."

When asked about how he is preparing for his comeback, the defender replied: "Through working in the gym mainly. Much of the stuff I'm doing in the gym I don't look forward to, but it benefits me.

"I have to say I'm doing more work now, while I'm injured, than I do when I'm playing. Because of that, I spend more time here at Carrington. But also because I'm not playing, there is less travelling so I can spend some more time with my family. That's a good point for me, because we have a third child now so there is a lot to do at home."

Valencia: Power Supply

Raised in the Amazon and fortified by military service, Antonio Valencia has taken an unlikely path to becoming one of United’s deadliest attacking weapons…

There's a rare, armour-plated beauty to be savoured in watching Antonio Valencia in full flow; a primal sadism stirred by the knowledge that, whether he needs to go around or through an opponent, he's almost certainly getting by.

The 2011/12 campaign has been a bittersweet affair for the 26-year-old. Deprived of pre-season by injury, then deployed as a makeshift right-back, he was only able to play his way into form in December when he returned to his true calling: physically and mentally brutalising left-backs while amassing assists galore. After Sunday's emphatic return at Wolves, he has now notched 12 since mid-December and embossed his overall contribution with well-taken goals against Wigan Athletic and Arsenal before his scintillating strike at Molineux.

He has been unplayable at times. If defenders aren’t barged out of the way or outstripped for speed, they are sucked into a high-risk battle of minds, in which Valencia’s penchant for crossing chicanery usually wins the day. Stop, start, fake, repeat until an opening arises. He can twist blood and bend reputations – just ask Ashley Cole, the only player to repeatedly shackle Cristiano Ronaldo, but as yet unable to match Valencia whenever United and Chelsea meet.

In Sir Alex Ferguson’s wide and varied attacking armoury, the Ecuadorian is a one-man arsenal. Rarely has Old Trafford seen a player with his blend of power and dexterity: a rhinoceros with the manoeuvrability of a hummingbird.

As a startlingly rare talent, it’s perhaps fitting that Antonio has taken such an untrodden path to stardom; trading the Amazon basin for the banks of the River Irwell. Born in Nueva Loja, capital of the Sucumbíos Province of Ecuador’s Amazon Region, Antonio and his five brothers would scour their city and its surrounding villages in search of glass bottles for their father’s bottle deposit centre. He would also help his mother sell ‘bolos’ (fruit juice in plastic bags) on matchdays outside the Estadio Carlos Vernaza, the local football stadium.

Initially spotted playing football recreationally with his friends by ex-player Pedro Perlaza, Antonio enrolled with local team Caribe Junior at the age of 14. So impressed was Perlaza with Valencia’s attributes, that he recommended the youngster to El Nacional, a local team keen on encouraging burgeoning talents. It also happened to be the Ecuadorian Armed Forces’ team, and required Antonio to move to Quito.

The youngster’s stint of service and football training had a profound effect. “Undoubtedly the work he did in the minor divisions with El Nacional helped him a lot to increase his strength and power,” says Ecuadorian football journalist, Rodolfo Mazur Oyola.

“El Nacional was the club that shaped him professionally. They honed his technique and also helped him in his personal training. He was always a special player due to his skills, but he used to be thin until he spent some time there. He began training with former members of the Ecuadorian national squad, who guided him and recommended he be taken to the first squad. It didn’t take long for him to gain the attention of Luis Fernando Suarez, the coach of the national team.”

It would prove a whirlwind few months. Three months after scoring twice on his international bow, and still only 19, Valencia was whisked to Villarreal by Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini. In the blink of an eye, the youngster had gone from Ecuador’s second tier to Europe’s top level, and a place on the bench when Villarreal held United to a goalless draw in the Champions League in September 2005. Playing time would prove elusive at El Madrigal, however, and he was hastily farmed out on loan to gain action at Recreativo de Huelva, in Spain’s second flight.

“He was young and maybe he struggled to adapt himself to European football,” admits Oyola. “Perhaps they were expecting a lot from him, but they did not consider that he was finding his feet in a new country. Then he did well at Recreativo. He had failed at Villarreal, but it was like he was taking a personal revenge on Spain with Recreativo.”

Though he had dropped a division, Valencia’s displays in Recreativo’s successful promotion push kept him in the frame for his country. Antonio was a cornerstone of Ecuador’s World Cup qualifying campaign, and it was in the tournament proper in Germany where his career took another unlikely twist.

“I was over in Germany for the whole World Cup,” recalls Paul Jewell, then manager of Wigan. “I went to watch Ecuador against Poland and this lad stood out, playing in central midfield. I thought he was a good player and when I found out he was 20 I couldn’t believe it. I watched him for the rest of the tournament, pursued it and we got Antonio on loan with a view to buying him. The daft thing is that there was no competition for him. I think he definitely slipped through the net of the big clubs. I was really impressed when I saw him because he had such a great understanding of the game.”

The language of football proved Jewell’s most effective method of communication with his new signing, who had little knowledge of English and needed a dressing room interpreter to convey tactics before matches – yet Antonio made a mockery of linguistic difficulties with a swift integration to the Latics setup.

“He was such an intelligent footballer that he just slotted in really quickly,” says Jewell. “He‘s a very intelligent boy. He’d pick up on what I said, even though it was in a Scouse accent. Every day he worked hard, was very courteous, very tough and a terrific pro. As a manager you’d love a team of Antonio Valencias.

“He was suited to English football because he’s tough. Not many players come over from Ecuador with a silver spoon in their mouths, and you could see immediately that he was a hard worker and he flourished. Although he didn’t say too much, he always had a glint in his eye and a wicked sense of humour – I see him now and I wish he’d smile more because he looks so serious! He’s at one of the top clubs in the world, which is no surprise to me because he’s that good a player.”

It didn’t take too long for Valencia’s talents to prick the interest of bigger clubs. Wigan exercised their option to sign the winger permanently from Villarreal in January 2008 – for a knockdown fee of around £4million - and a year on, Latics manager Steve Bruce revealed that Antonio had rejected the chance to join Real Madrid. Six months later, however, he couldn’t resist the chance to be part of United’s rebuilding exercise after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The move had a knock-on effect back in Ecuador. “The entire country was thrilled,” reveals Oyola.

“Without any doubt, his presence at Wigan increased the interest of the Premier League, which was already followed closely by many people. People wanted to follow his development. Unfortunately, because Wigan used to be a small team, their games were not broadcast regularly, so fans used to wait the release of special reports in order to see how he did.

"However when a Wigan match was announced to be broadcast the whole country was there to see him in action, regardless of the time. There was great excitement when he joined United, because it meant he had moved into the elite of world football. The news touched the entire country, not just football fans. All of Ecuador became aware of him.”

Manchester cottoned on pretty quickly, too. Valencia immediately struck up fruitful relationships with his new colleagues, and his arrival coincided with the most prolific season of Wayne Rooney’s career – the striker was on course to double his previous season’s tally before injury decimated the final eight weeks of the campaign. The form of his supply lines – Nani and Valencia – was central to his success.

Antonio’s second season with the Reds failed to reach the levels of his first, but through no fault of his own. Having suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in an early season draw with Rangers, he missed six months of action. Despite a rapid recovery to finish last season in devastating form, Antonio found his start to 2011/12 similarly disrupted by both an ankle blow and a pressing need to operate as an auxiliary right-back. He played his way into form in early December, however, and was United's most menacing attacker until he strained a hamstring at Ajax last month.

Valencia's comeback at Molineux showcased his value to the cause: a goal, two direct assists and a support role in the Reds' fourth goal. As impressive as Wayne Rooney's string-pulling was, Sky Sports' failure to recognise United's number 25 as the man of the match at Molineux was perhaps motivated by consideration of their post-match interview, with Scouse brogue superceding a three-way ordeal of interviewer, player and translator.

Sir Alex Ferguson, however, was quick to salute his winger's influence on proceedings. "He could be very important," said the United manager. "His form before he got the injury was outstanding. Now he is back we hope he stays back fit. He is such an honest, hard-working player. You get two sides to Antonio. He is prepared to work really hard. He can tackle, he can run, but he can also beat a man. He has got everything."

Patrice Evra summarised Valencia's January display against Bolton by proffering: "I think he ate a motor." Two months on, after an enforced pit-stop, the Ecuadorian appears ready to take United's race for the title into overdrive.

Scholes Reigns Supreme

Former Reds midfielder Johnny Giles has joined the chorus of approval for Paul Scholes' return to top-level football.

The 37-year-old came out of retirement in January and United have won every Barclays Premier League game he's played in since, except for the dramatic 3-3 draw at Chelsea when he came on as a substitute with the champions two goals down.

Giles, who lifted the 1963 FA Cup with United and is now a top pundit in Ireland with RTE and The Herald, has always been a great admirer of Scholes and feels his qualities are unique in today's game.

"I am a great fan of Scholesy," he told ManUtd.com. "Paul Scholes has been the only genuine, real midfield player in the last 15 years perhaps. Certainly in the Premier League, never mind for England, he’s been a great player.

"In his early days he was scoring goals as well, but you look at him and only he can play and make that position on the pitch his own. He gets the ball from the back four and distributes it and nobody else can do that.

"I know you get different types of midfielder – Luka Modric is very good, David Silva is excellent – but Paul Scholes, for running midfield from a central position – there is nobody like him."

The decision to make a U-turn over his retirement has clearly been the right one and there is every prospect Scholes could carry on for another season.

"Good luck to him," continued Giles. "He probably should never have retired in the first place. Sometimes it does you good when you finish as you’ve had enough but then you actually miss it.

"He was a bit in and out of the team and it was probably very easy to decide he’d had enough. But I think he’s probably come back as good, if not better, than before. He’s been excellent since he came back."

Scholes' fine comeback
Man City (A) 3-2 - FA Cup *
Bolton (H) 3-0 - Premier League
Arsenal (A) 2-1 - Premier League *
Liverpool (A) 1-2 - FA Cup
Stoke City (H) 2-0 - Premier League
Chelsea (A) 3-3 - Premier League *
Liverpool (H) 2-1 - Premier League
Ajax (A) 2-0 - Europa League *
Ajax (H) 1-2 - Europa League *
Norwich (A) 2-1 - Premier League
Tottenham (A) 3-1 - Premier League
West Brom (H) 2-0 - Premier League
Wolves (A) 5-0 - Premier League

* = Came on as a substitute

Giggs: The Perfect Athlete

Serial record-breaker Ryan Giggs has topped 900 appearances for United – so how does he do it, and just how long can he prolong his incredible career?

Four years have passed since journalists and statistical devotees were cautiously calculating whether or not Ryan Giggs would be able to pass Sir Bobby Charlton’s longstanding club record of 758 United appearances. He did, of course, in Moscow, on a gloriously romantic, rain-sodden night worthy of the sappiest sepia – and promptly used that landmark as a launchpad, rather than a curtain call. A year on Giggs was named PFA Player of the Year and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and Premier League titles in 2008/09 and 2010/11 have taken his personal haul of league winner’s medals to a round dozen.

Eight days after Giggs broke Sir Bobby’s record, the latter was immortalised in bronze as part of the ‘United Trinity’ statue on the Old Trafford forecourt. This season, Giggs has passed the combined 874 appearances racked up by the Trinity’s other members – Denis Law and George Best – with his influence showing no sign of waning over time.

The 38-year-old marked his 900th appearance for the Reds, at Carrow Road last month, in a fashion that showcased all his virtues. After an hour on the left wing, Giggs moved into a central, support-striker role and, when Norwich equalised, he snatched the baton. After creating two openings that were spurned, the Welshman anticipated Ashley Young’s stoppage-time cross perfectly, turning one point into three and fuelling United’s title charge.

Giggs’s longevity has allowed him time to master the founding principles of the game – intelligence, awareness, resilience, movement, touch and vision. Balancing mental and physical strength, he expresses himself with sophistication and incisiveness; even approaching his fifth decade, the Welshman remains a key component in United’s armoury.

Tony Strudwick, the Reds’ head of fitness and conditioning, is in no doubt of the veteran’s standing: “In any sport you get individuals – like Michael Jordan in basketball, Lance Armstrong in cycling, even Steve Redgrave in rowing – who move their sport on to another level through the longevity of their career.

“They’re all great athletes and Ryan is just the perfect football athlete. He has a physical capacity that not many athletes possess. We look at running economy, which measures how efficient you are with your running, and his running economy is fantastic. He uses less energy per stride, so he’s a smoother, more efficient athlete. That allows him to get through the number of games he has.

“On top of that, undoubtedly, what differentiates Ryan from a lot of athletes is his mental strength. Nothing fazes him. His mental strength, particularly at key moments of games, can be match-winning for us. And that makes him the go-to guy when we’re under pressure. That’s like Jordan or Redgrave. Under pressure, in a team environment, it’s ‘Give me the ball and I’ll do it’, like Ryan did against Norwich.”

The astuteness of Giggs on the field is matched by his wily management off it. While Sir Alex, Strudwick and the rest of the Carrington coaching staff painstakingly plan the 38-year-old’s best deployment, it’s a process galvanised by the player’s accord.

“You have to accept that, when you hit a threshold like Ryan, it takes you longer to recover from games,” says Strudwick. “Ryan spends longer in recovery than the average 21- or 22-year-old. That’s just common sense. With the way the coaching department and medical department are set up, we’re quite flexible in our individual requirements. You make it bespoke for Ryan, what works for him.

“Ryan is engaged and involved in that process. There’s a little bit of negotiating between coach and athlete and manager, and again I think because we’re all – the technical, physical and medical coaches – buying into the same process, it becomes more flexible and fluid. If he needs to do a yoga session rather than go out and train, that’s fine.

“He doesn’t miss much training. We have the capacity for him to have a lighter recovery day, but he still trains. What he has managed to do is create an environment around himself that allows him to perform. With the appropriate diet and nutrition he ensures that he lives well and eats well. He knows his requirements and what his body’s feeling. That’s how top athletes manage themselves appropriately.

“He’s also got such a synergistic relationship with the manager, where the manager knows when he should pull Ryan and give him a rest (which he does), and he knows when to keep playing him. There’s that level of trust between manager and athlete.”

That relationship has been fed by each man’s inherent drive over more than two decades at Manchester United. While Sir Alex is known for being the first man up the Carrington path each morning, Giggs is always among the last to traipse off the training field , with experience teaching the Welshman that small margins make big differences.

“You have players who come in and train, and those – like Ryan – who come in and practise,” says Strudwick. “I didn’t have the pleasure of working with Eric Cantona, but those who did, have said it was the same with him; he’d come in and practise. Those who do – Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Giggs – come in, grab a bag of balls, and they’ll work on their game.

“Practice is a bit more cerebral –even at his age, Ryan will still be there practising his free-kicks at the end of training… he’s still there working on his game. If he isn’t happy with his delivery or crosses after a game, he’ll come in the following week and work on them. The environment is there for him, but it’s that desire and hunger to still want to improve. He’s still in the performance phase of his career and I don’t see any slowing of his game.”

Speculation surrounding Giggs’s future has soundtracked his stroll through his thirties but, with another year’s extension freshly tacked on to his rolling contract, the finishing line is still over the horizon. Perhaps, rather than strain to see an end point, it would be more prudent to simply sit back and savour Ryan Giggs’s enduring excellence. As he has been demonstrating for years, the boundaries of time have limited power when it comes to greatness.

Evans Wary Of Title Woe

Jonny Evans says Manchester United are focused on overturning Manchester City's goal difference advantage as the race for the title hots up.

The Reds had scored five at Wolves with almost half an hour still to play but were unable to rack up any more goals against the 10-men hosts. Nevertheless, the impressive victory margin means City's goal difference is now only superior to United's by three.

"I think, when we came out for the second half, the main aim was to try and cut the goal difference by getting as many goals as we could," Evans declared to MUTV.

"It's hard sometimes and we took our foot off the gas a bit maybe but we still managed to nick another two goals. Of course, it [the goal difference] is massively important. Especially as we could be only one point ahead. If it goes to the end of the season, the last thing we want to do is lose the league on goal difference. It's almost like another point really and it'd be a horrible way to lose the league."

United's title rivals City next play on Wednesday night in a league match rearranged due to Chelsea's continued involvement in the FA Cup. Evans is obviously hoping the Londoners will do the Reds a favour after picking up four morale-boosting wins in succession since Roberto Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas at the helm, including the remarkable Champions League turnaround against Napoli.

"It's massive," Evans said of the midweek clash. "Obviously, if we do our job it does put pressure on City. Chelsea won in the FA Cup and it's probably a good boost for them and will lift their spirits so I'm sure they'll go to City in a pretty confident mood."

Team P GD Pts
1 Man Utd 29 +46 70
2 Manchester City 28 +49 66
3 Tottenham Hotspur 28 +18 53
4 Arsenal 28 +18 52
5 Chelsea 28 +16 49
6 Newcastle United 29 0 47
7 Liverpool 28 +7 42
8 Swansea City 29 0 39
9 Sunderland 28 +5 37
10 Everton 28 -3 37

Antonio Such An Asset

Antonio Valencia's part in United's win at Wolves was further proof of his importance, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Ecuadorian international netted the Reds' brilliant second goal at Molineux and went on to set up Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez for the third and fifth strikes respectively.

With Valencia now fully recovered from a hamstring strain, Sir Alex is expecting the 26-year-old to play a key role between now and May.

"It's great to see him back and I thought he had Wolves on the back foot all the time," the boss told MUTV.

"He scored a terrific second, set up the third for Danny Welbeck and the fifth for Chicharito so he's had a great afternoon.

"His return could be very important because his form before he got his injury was outstanding. Now he's back, we hope he stays fit because he's a real threat.

"He's such an honest, hard-working player. He can tackle, run with the ball, beat a man, cross... he's got everything really and he works so hard for the team which is very important."

Wayne Values Winning Margin

Wayne Rooney says it was important United made strides in the goal difference stakes following the 5-0 victory over Molineux.

Before the victory at Wolves, rivals Manchester City were eight goals ahead. Now the margin is down to just three, with the Reds four points clear of the Blues at the top of the table having played a game more.

"We knew we had an opportunity to score goals today," the striker told Sky Sports. "We spoke about it at half-time and wanted to push on and score more. We managed to get an extra two in the second half, so we're pleased with the result."

Rooney was also delighted with the attitude the team showed after the disappointing Europa League exit in Bilbao last week, and maintains that the team's impressive league form will stand them in good stead for the final push in the title race.

"This is a great result for us. Thursday was a disappointing night for us all and we knew it was important we bounced back and bounced back well," he added.

"Coming here over the last few years has been a difficult game for us so to leave with three points makes it a great day.

"I've said before today we're playing really well and getting the results we need. I'm sure if we keep doing that it'll be a good season for us."

Welbeck's Goal Delight

Danny Welbeck admits he felt in need of a goal after ending a 10-game barren run in the 5-0 success at Wolves.

The youngster last scored when grabbing the winner at Arsenal eight weeks ago but was on the mark again with a clinical finish after being teed up by Antonio Valencia in first-half stoppage time.

When asked by MUTV if he was getting concerned about a possible drought, he replied: "Before the game, I actually thought I do need a goal. Thankfully, it came today.

"But you can't let these things play on your mind, you just play your normal game and, as long as the team keeps winning, that's the main thing."

Welbeck was on the receiving end of the late tackle by Ronald Zubar that earned the Wolves defender a second yellow card in the first half and the England international was in no doubt that referee Anthony Taylor made the right call.

"I don't think he should commit himself on the line as I wasn't really going anywhere and he dived in," said Welbeck. "It was a bit of a rash tackle. It's up to the referee to make the decision and he gave him another yellow card."

The away form this season has been outstanding, after the performances on the road last term were, on the whole, a little below par, but the forward is unable to explain what the difference has been since his own return from the loan stint at Sunderland.

"I couldn't really say," he stated. "I don't really know. We come away and have performed well, passed the ball around and really attacked teams.

"We're Manchester United and we come to away grounds and want to win every single game."

Welbeck, who has moved into double figures in terms of goals this season in all competitions, was pleased with the victory and to see Jonny Evans score for United for the first time.

"We looked to come here and get the three points and it's good to get five goals and regain some of the goal difference [on Manchester City]," he added. "It's a big stage of the season for us and I'm pretty delighted with that.

"We'd been giving Jonny a bit of stick before that but we knew it was going to come one day or another. It came today at Molineux and we're all happy for him."

Evans Breaks Duck

Jonny Evans has admitted his delight and relief at finally getting off the mark in a United shirt.

The centre-back has been in splendid form at the other end of the pitch but came up for a Wayne Rooney corner to open the scoring at Wolves and set the champions on the way to a 5-0 success.

After going 118 games without scoring, he told MUTV: "Yeah, that [stat] doesn't sound too good! I'm just delighted with the goal.

"Michael Carrick put it on a plate for me really. There's no point me having a celebration [planned]. I just ran off and a few of the lads were laughing at the expression on my face. It was pure relief and a bit of shock really.

"I've kept the shirt today and that will do for me."

Evans also heaped praise on team-mate Antonio Valencia, who produced an outstanding perfomance on the right wing.

"He's been superb all season," enthused the defender. "He's been unbelievable actually. He's got everything his locker.

"Him coming back was probably a bit of a gamble in terms of the fact he's been out for a month or two but he's such a hard worker, I'm sure he's kept himself in really good shape."

Sir Alex Hails Win

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed United's fine finishing against Wolves following his side's 5-0 victory on Sunday, but warned his players that the overall performance level can still improve.

The Reds were virtually home and dry by half-time at Molineux after first half strikes from Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck had provided a three-goal advantage against ten-man Wolves.

Javier Hernandez added two more after the break to ensure United made a sizeable dent in Manchester City's goal difference advantage, but the Reds' boss insists his side can still play better.

"What is significant today is we've reduced the goal difference by five goals and that may make a difference at the end of the season," he told Sky Sports and MUTV.

"It was an okay performance from us. I didn't think it was anything special although there was a great intensity about the players. They were all really concentrating on their jobs because they knew it was an important game. Wolves always make it difficult for you here, but we took our goals well.

"The finish for the second one was fantastic from Valencia. Antonio is back in the team and his form was fantastic today.

"He made one for Danny Welbeck [right on half-time] which killed the match really.

"The first 20 minutes were very even and competitive and getting the opening goal was a bonus for us. After that it was very difficult for Wolves with ten men and being 3-0 down. They were honest and committed in the second half and they kept plugging away, but the 3-0 advantage we had was too much for them."

The victory takes United four points clear of rivals City who are next in action on Wednesday night at home to Chelsea. Sir Alex insists there is still a long way to go yet in the race for the Championship, but is more than happy with how things stand at present.

"I think it [the title race] will go down the wire," he added. "There are still nine games to go and it's just a matter of chalking them off one-by-one until you end up with no games left. Hopefully by that point we achieve what we want to achieve."

Wolves Bitten By Rampant Red Devils

Five goals inside little over an hour ensured United would stretch the lead at the top of the table to four points as ten-man Wolves were dismantled almost at will at Molineux.

Antonio Valencia was simply outstanding on his return from injury and he added to Jonny Evans' opener after Ronald Zubar was sent off six minutes short of half time. Danny Welbeck made it three in first half stoppage time and a brace from Javier Hernandez proved to be the end of the scoring.

That was perhaps a surprise to many given the manner in which Wolves had been savaged, with Manchester City's superior goal difference still a factor in the title race, but nothing should detract from a third 5-0 win on the road in the Barclays Premier League this term.

After a spell of applause for Fabrice Muamba, following his shocking collapse in Bolton's FA Cup tie at Tottenham, there was a largely subdued atmosphere for the opening period with the home fans perhaps low on expectation considering their team's recent poor run.

It took nine minutes for the champions to tear a huge hole in the opposition defence but Rafael could not pick out a man in the middle after being played in by Valencia, the two changes to the XI that faced West Brom combining to good effect on the right flank for the first of many occasions.

Wolves briefly mounted some pressure with Kevin Doyle's shot easily fielded by David De Gea and Steven Fletcher flicking a header from a Matt Jarvis centre wide, even though the offside flag was up in any case. Three minutes later, it was United who broke through after Michael Carrick's shot deflected off Richard Stearman for a corner.

Wayne Rooney played the flag-kick to the far post and Carrick's intelligent sidefoot volley back into the danger zone was met by Evans, who swivelled to thump home his first goal for the club on his 119th appearance. Things went from bad to worse for Terry Connor's strugglers when Zubar inexplicably launched into wild tackles on Rooney and Welbeck within 11 first-half minutes. Welbeck received treatment as referee Anthony Taylor produced the inevitable second yellow card.

Scenting blood, United responded to the 10 men gamely winning a corner by breaking down the other end to double the lead. Welbeck's header out was moved on by Hernandez to Rooney, who produced by far his best pass of the half to release Valencia down the right. The fit-again Ecuadorian had plenty to do but utilised his pace to stunning effect and arrowed a brilliant finish just inside the far post.

Evans displayed his confidence with a raking pass to bring Valencia into the game again and an accurate cross, as is usually the case from the ex-Wigan man, allowed Welbeck to sweep an instant finish past the wrong-footed Hennessey to make it 3-0 before the interval.

The second half was always likely to be a case of damage limitation for the hosts with Hennessey doing well to push away a decent attempt by Rooney that skipped off the turf. However, the Welsh keeper had no chance when a short corner led to Valencia inviting Rafael to centre and Hernandez guided home with the simplest of headers.

Hernandez clearly had the taste for goals again as he buried number five soon afterwards, following a superb move involving Valencia and Welbeck with the England international's flick in the one-two a flash of real genius. The Reds' football, against demoralised opponents, was mesmerising and majestic with Hennessey needing to race out to deny Hernandez a hat-trick.

Wolves conjured up a response that finally extended De Gea, but the Spaniard was equal to efforts from Michael Kightly and Fletcher. A sixth goal proved elusive as Fabio failed to find the required finish after coming on as a substitute and Hennessey kept out Welbeck with his right foot following great approach work by Rooney.

Paul Pogba, another substitute, hammered off target and Hernandez could only loop a header comfortably into Hennessey's arms as United were unable to add to the scoreline, despite assuming total control. So it's all eyes on the Etihad Stadium for Wednesday's clash between City and rejuvenated Chelsea.