Chelsea in Fergie's sights as United eye top spot
Alex Ferguson turned his attention to next weekend's clash with Chelsea after a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers left his champions two points behind the Premier League leaders. United looked well below par before seeing off a stubborn Blackburn side at...
Alex Ferguson turned his attention to next weekend's clash with Chelsea after a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers left his champions two points behind the Premier League leaders.
United looked well below par before seeing off a stubborn Blackburn side at Old Trafford on Saturday thanks to expert finishes from Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.
But, as he has said repeatedly in recent weeks, Ferguson bristled at suggestions United are still struggling to find the form that has taken them to the last two European Champions' League finals and the last three Premier League titles.
As far as the veteran Scottish boss was concerned, United were on course.
"The good thing about this club is we're experienced enough to know how difficult it is to win this league," said Ferguson.
"It's not going to be any different this year.
"We know mistakes are going to happen, we know you lose games you don't expect to lose but you go for the consistency and hope to carry on with that consistency. If we get to January and we're still in there then we will have a great chance."
United are currently battling with a number of injuries ahead of Sunday's meeting with Chelsea with Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand both ruled out of tomorrow's Champions League meeting with CSKA Moscow.
Nemanja Vidic also sat out the Blackburn match, leaving Ferguson fielding an unfamiliar pairing of Jonny Evans and Wes Brown in the heart of the defence.
"A lot was made about Ferdinand and Vidic being out," said Ferguson.
"But when you have Wes Brown and Jonny Evans as back-up, you're not doing bad.
"If you take Ferdinand and Vidic out, then there are not many better pairings in the Premier League than Evans and Brown."
Victory might have been more comfortable for United but there was an astonishing miss from French winger Gabriel Obertan, who had his first taste of Premier League football as a second-half substitute and marked the occasion by missing the target from six yards.
"Young Gabby was a bit nervous when he came on," said Ferguson.
"It's only his second game in seven or eight months so you've got to put that in its proper perspective.
"But towards the end he started to settle down and did very well. He's not happy with himself for that miss so that's a good sign."