Roy Keane has admitted Manchester United are in danger of losing their grip on English football.
After a decade of Premiership dominance, the Old Trafford meekly surrendered their crown to Arsenal with over a month of last season's campaign remaining.
This year the club has been affected by a massive injury list, as well as the on-going suspension of Rio Ferdinand. Keane admitted to the club's official magazine that he and his team-mates have lost their air of invincibility.
"Teams playing us think they have got a chance now," he said. However, he remains upbeat about United's prospects.
"Things have changed a little bit, but that's fine - it's a great challenge for the players."
The Cork midfield maestro also re-iterated his desire to retain his position in United's engine room rather than move back into the centre of defence.
"I feel I can do a job there and I suppose the manager uses me there because of my experience, he said.
"But I do think centre-half is a specialised position, especially with the top strikers around these days, and my priority is to get into midfield.
"Hopefully, when everyone is fit and the likes of Wes, Heinze, Rio and John O'Shea are all vying for the centre-half position, I can then fight for my midfield spot."
Filed by Séamus Leonard
