The Guardian:
What is troubling Ferguson is that in the space of a week, as United enter the final weeks of what remains a possible treble, he has lost three strikers. Yesterday's news that Louis Saha's scan on his hamstring discovered damage that will keep him out for a month - up to six matches - follows the loss last week of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to knee surgery.
Solskjaer could be fit again quickly but with regulations apparently forbidding the calling back of Giuseppe Rossi from loan at Parma, it was therefore symbolic that when Larsson departed to a rousing ovation, Alan Smith was his replacement. Smith was lively and sharp in his 15 minutes but he has begun just two games this season, both in the Carling Cup.
There was, moreover, a new injury to Darren Fletcher on Tuesday in training that will mean two months out and then, as a contest that never truly caught fire petered out, Mikaël Silvestre dislocated a shoulder in a heavy fall. He was carried off on a stretcher. Throw in the fact that Paul Scholes is suspended for Saturday, plus the Premiership home games with Bolton and Blackburn, and United's European progress has come laced with anxiety.
The Times:
Manchester United suffered a serious blow yesterday when Louis Saha, the France forward, was ruled out for at least four weeks with a hamstring strain. The injury has come at a bad time, with Henrik Larsson returning to Sweden after the FA Cup quarter-final tie away to Middlesbrough on Saturday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sidelined through injury and Alan Smith short of match fitness.
It leaves United with only one fit, recognised forward, Wayne Rooney — although the England player required eight stitches in a knee after being caught by Jamie Carragher during the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday — and will give Chelsea, who trail United by nine points in the Barclays Premiership, renewed hope in the title race.
Saha damaged his left hamstring during shooting practice on Tuesday before United's Champions League first knockout round, second-leg match at home to Lille last night. He will probably miss Premiership matches against Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth, as well as the Cup tie against Middlesbrough and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Larsson played his penultimate match last night before he returns home to Helsingborg, while Solskjaer faces a further three weeks out after a knee operation. Smith has not started a first-team match since November.
Ferguson:
"In the space of a week we have lost five or six players so it's been a bad week for us, apart from results. They have been good and that creates a great purpose for ourselves
"The defensive part, particularly, has been an important factor for us in terms of the results we've had recently. Now, in the remainder of the games, we have the squad, the quality and the purpose to go all the way."
Larsson puts away any questions about him staying:
"I've signed a contract with Helsingborgs and it's a contract I intend to honour. The season starts first week in April and I'll be there. That's why I'm going home on Sunday. It has been a wonderful experience at a great club. It's something I'll always be grateful for."