UNLUCKY LOSERS

"We know we can do better than that next season and we will," said Fergie. "We won't have a season like that again, make no mistake."

"The Premiership was a big disappointment,"

"Not so much Europe, because we went out to a last-minute goal to Porto after
playing well and doing almost everything right. But the League was disappointing. And I know our players desperately want to win the championship this season.

"If we finish second or third, there's something wrong with the club. That's the
challenge and what I am fighting for."

"We want to win it again, no doubt about that," he said. "And I honestly don't
think that means a big step up for us in terms of quality. I feel our day will come again and that we will win it.

"As well as quality you hope you get lucky, and in some years we haven't had
that luck. But I know we're good enough to win it again."

And even at his age Fergie is still just as excited as ever.

"I still get excited by pre-season and the thought of what's to come,"
 

"We've signed some new players this summer in Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinze and Liam Miller.

"The exciting thing is seeing how they will fit in and change things for us. That's
what is so great about football; there is always something to improve on, even at a club like ours. That is what keeps you going and that is what makes me
optimistic about the season ahead." United skipper Roy Keane shares Fergie's
optimism about the upcoming campaign, pointing to the fact the club rarely have two bad seasons in a row.

"We didn't produce anything like our best last season," said Keane. "We know
that. But the one thing about this team is that we always respond well after every setback.

"We need to get back to the top, where we belong, and I firmly believe we will do that this season.

"We are always striving to go forward at this club and that is the case this season. We all know we must improve on last year, and that is what drives us forward."