LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY

Ferguson on United's brand of football. From the Mirror

"With Chelsea not endearing themselves to everyone in the game, it's strange that people, even Liverpool fans, are saying to me 'I hope you win the League', which is amazing,"

"But I think that Liverpool supporters will always recognise what good football teams are. I think we're playing good football and I think that is getting its message across."

"We've always had our detractors but also our admirers,"

"So I don't think it's ever been overloaded in one way.

"When we got all the success in the late 1990s I think, quite rightly, a lot of clubs were hoping we'd lose a week, simply because you don't want a monopoly.

"I watch a game on TV and I want the underdog to win, it doesn't matter what the game is. That's the way people are and it's quite right.

"But I think that they always recognised we played good football and anytime we won the League it was because of our style and the way we went about it."

As for speculation over Mourinho's future, Fergie added: "I had dinner with Jose in November and he seemed happy enough.''