UNITED IS THE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Eight United players were named in the PFA Premier team of the season

PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2007

Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (all Man Utd); Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Man Utd) & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) & Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

Ferguson, who also picked up a merit prize was very happy for the team and especially Ronaldo.

"This shows what quality we have at Manchester United," he added.

"To have eight players in the team of the year is great."

After picking up his own award - Ferguson paid tribute to Ronaldo.

"When we saw him play in a pre-season friendly for Sporting against us, at half-time I knew we had to get him and I said to [then chief executive] Peter Kenyon 'we are not leaving the stadium until we get the boy'," he recalled.

"At this moment in time, I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been incredible."