NOT THE BEST OF WEEKS

“As certain quarters of the press, less fond of Fergie than you and I, sharpen the knives, this is a time to do what Manchester United do so well; play on in the face of adversity and refuse to give up.”

"The manager has received a bit of criticism recently. You have to remember, nobody has done more for this club, not even Matt Busby, when it comes to winning trophies. The media, who largely have a dislike for the manager, are just hoping for the bad times so they can get the knives out."

“In the last three matches, we have relinquished our hold the game by giving up 1-0 leads. Against Leeds, Porto and Fulham on Saturday, we have gone 1-0 up, and then not taken advantage of it. There is obviously a lack of confidence among the players. In that situation you’re thinking ‘if we can hold on to this score line we’ve got the result’. It’s a dangerous game to play, but one that is caused by a lack of confidence.”

“When things go against you, the fans play such a vital role. It’s absolutely crucial. And United fans have proved that in the past. You’ve just got to think about 1999, arguably the greatest moment in the club’s history, nearly all of those games were out of adversity. The support of the fans that season was fantastic. That isn’t to say we’re going to win the Treble this season, but it’s evidence of how important a role the fans can play. The team needs, and I’m sure it will get, that same support at a time when things perhaps aren’t going so well.”