M.E.N.
“I have never believed that those players have lost any hunger and desire. They may have lost a little bit of form but it wasn’t hunger and desire.
“It’s an insult for anyone to say it whoever they are. They have never lacked that. Not being in top form is a totally different matter.
“Sometimes when you are not in top form you can appear to lack drive and that is always then levelled at people that they are not giving 100 per cent.
“One or two people, like David Beckham and Gary Neville, have had injuries which they’ve never had before and then to expect them to come back and be absolutely flying is very unfair.
“The desire and hunger has been there and always will be with those players.
“I don’t go along with the theory at all. I know them as well as anybody and I talk to them all a lot even now and I have never sensed any lack of desire.
“Most Manchester United fans don’t believe that but I think the general public would say it and would take great delight in it as well. It is a sort of jealousy.
“I would be the first to complain if I thought they weren’t giving 100 per cent, I really would, there is no question about it and I would tell them. But I have no need to contemplate it.
“It is looking a lot brighter the way United have been playing. I am always happy when Ryan, David, Gary, Nicky and Paul are all in the team together.