Alex Ferguson has claimed that Manchester United cannot give up their Premiership crown because that would be against the very nature of the club. Last night's 5-0 demolition of Derby sent a signal to their rivals that they will not give up without a fight. He says that his players reflect his own determination to win. "We can't give up. The nature of what this club is all about means they can't do that. With people like Keane, Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles, they will make sure that won't happen," said the Manchester United manager.
Ferguson's attitude appears to have changed from his post-match interview following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to West Ham when he claimed United would need a "miracle" to retain the Championship. "We're capable of going on a good run, but we have to make sure we don't make any more mistakes. We need clean sheets now. We can make chances and we can score goals. That part is good, but we need more clean sheets at the other end," he said today.
Last night's victory lifted them to fifth in the table - eight points behind leaders Liverpool who have played one less game. Their next few games - to Middlesbrough on Saturday, followed by Southampton, Everton and Fulham – look to be relatively straightforward and Manchester United could easily be back in contention by the new year.
In a separate development, Alex Ferguson has claimed Steve McClaren decided to take the manager's job at Middlesbrough after realising he was too young to succeed his mentor at Manchester United. McClaren will play host to his former club at the Riverside on Saturday.
"When he moved to Middlesbrough I think he knew he was a bit young for the United job, and I can understand that. His worry was with me finishing next year that he could be left in the middle, that job offers may come along before that and he was going to be left behind. That's why he decided to leave in the summer because his contract was up at the end of next year. I think it was a bold decision and a correct decision.
"He worked with me for more than two years - two years and three months, I think it was - and I always said to him that the most important thing as a manager was making decisions. If you're sure you're right then go for it; don't hang around. Players respond to positive behaviour from managers. If you show a reluctance to act the players see that, and I think he has the necessary characteristics," said Ferguson in an interview with Middlesbrough's television channel, Boro TV.
The Manchester United manager believes that McClaren has the ability to succeed at the highest level. "I have no doubt in my mind he will become a top manager. I think he has done a lot of great things already. He did well for me and he has a great work ethic about him, which is important everywhere and especially at Manchester United. If things go wrong then you can always fall back on your foundation of work ethic for starters, and the players who worked under Steve and me knew that. He's very tough and not averse to trying new technology. He did very well here with that. He has an innovative mind; he wants to try things and get on with things," said Ferguson.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
