Ryan Giggs, “We have dropped 18 points so far against the bottom eight teams. That is just not good enough. Our results against the better teams prove the quality is there, what we have lacked is consistency. It was the same last season and we cannot let it happen again. Chelsea have raised the bar and we will have to improve if we are going to get the championship back.”
Fergie, “At the start of this season, Chelsea benefited from people thinking nobody could get above Manchester United or Arsenal. Next season, it will be the complete reverse. People will ask 'Can Arsenal and United get above Chelsea?' When you win the league, that's what happens. That's the burden you live with.
“I certainly wouldn't think Chelsea will be 12 or 13 points ahead of second place again. That's not to say they won't be as formidable. It's just that it's not easy to defend a Premiership title.
“Chelsea, Arsenal and ourselves will be challenging as always. Liverpool getting to the Champions League means they will have more money available. And the team that is improving all the time is Tottenham.
“We don't need to use this game to provide proof that we will be challenging Chelsea next season," claimed Ferguson. “There is nothing between the sides and they know fine well we will be one of their main challengers next season. They have deserved their title. Jose Mourinho has come in and built a very powerful team. But next season is already shaping up to be a very hard league.”
Albert Steptoe, aka Phil Neville, “You can't wait two or three years for success at Manchester United. The fans just won't accept it and the manager won't accept it. We need to win the Premiership next season, end of story. We can't be waiting for young players to get more experience or the older ones to get even better.
"I don't believe there's much to choose in quality between ourselves, Chelsea and Arsenal but the league table doesn't lie. It wouldn't surprise me if they rested a few. They have nothing else to play for. We've played them three times this year and it's always been close. But you have to give Chelsea credit. If you win the league, you deserve every plaudit you get."
Ronaldo, “"Next season we will improve and I believe we can go on and win the Premiership and Champions League. It's obvious there is a lot of expectation surrounding this club, so when things don't go so well people are disappointed. I'm optimistic and I hope to win many titles here. And if we stay focused, I'm sure that will happen."
Gary Neville, "Our season starts tonight against Chelsea. We have got to leave a marker for next season. In seasons gone by we've been able to start in a dodgy manner and then had a five month unbeaten run between October and March to put us top of the league.
"That's not happened over the last two seasons. Even the great runs we've gone on haven't made a dent into the league. So we obviously have to change our thinking. Starting slowly isn't going to be good enough from now on. We have to start quickly next season, and I think next season starts in this match against Chelsea for us.
"They're playing Manchester United and they'll want to cement their place as champions and let everybody know they'll be around next season. They won't want to lose; it's as simple as that.
"Usually if you're feeling that high and you have been celebrating it doesn't take anything out of you because your adrenaline is still pumping. You're still thinking very positive thoughts because you're thinking no matter what happens, you can't be beaten - you're champions.
"I don't think it will affect them in the way they come to us. But we've got our own agenda and we can't pay too much attention to what Chelsea are thinking. We need a win and a performance, and we need to take the chances we get in front of goal. Manchester United has to play exciting football, creating chances, with lots of ooh's and aah's from the crowd. That's what this game has to be about.
"Our fans deserve that. They've been brilliant this season, even during disappointing performances at times. We have to respect the fact that they deserve something back from us. We've got to show them fight. The champions are coming to Old Trafford. We don't like that. We're not enjoying that and our fans don't enjoy that.
"At the end of the day they won't accept it forever. Our manager certainly won't accept it. Our fans are very loyal but they won't accept it forever. They expect better than what we've produced for them at times this season."