Next Game

A-League All Stars v Man Utd

Saturday, 20 July 2013, 16:00

Friendly Match

The Hawthorns

Last Game

West Brom 5 - 5 Man Utd

Sunday, 19 May 2013, 16:00

Barclays Prem

Ferguson demands full focus

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant his side will not allow complacency to deny them a 20th league title.

Last Updated: 17/03/13 at 10:36 Post Comment

Sir Alex Ferguson: United are just 13 points from winning a 20th league title

Sir Alex Ferguson: United are just 13 points from winning a 20th league title

A 1-0 win over Reading on Saturday evening thanks to Wayne Rooney's deflected first-half goal moved the Old Trafford club to within 13 points of winning the Premier League.

The title is therefore within touching distance but, having seen his side blow an eight-point lead in the last six games of last season, Ferguson is demanding full focus.

"You don't get points and medals for being complacent and we won't be," he told MUTV. "I think the players are conscious of the importance of the games now and that concentration, which has improved, has helped us do that [in terms of keeping clean sheets].

"I think, before the game, we always thought that winning was the important thing today.

"It wasn't a great performance but where we are today is not down to today but the last six months.

"The team has shown great consistency and played a lot of great football. Our goal difference is big over City now - 13 goals. It's a great position to be in but the only thing we can do is win our next game."

The Premier League now goes on hold for the international break and Ferguson has confirmed Rio Ferdinand will meet up with England after his surprise recall.

Ashley Young is expected to be fit to also join the Three Lions squad on Monday night despite being substituted with an apparent knee problem against Reading.

Ferguson has already bemoaned his United squad suffering from fatigue and the international break is consequently far from ideal for the Scot considering they travel to Sunderland on 30th March for a lunchtime kick-off, and Chelsea 48 hours later for their FA Cup quarter-final replay.

"With the problem I've got, a lot of players are away on international duty and play two games," said Ferguson, who made eight changes to his first team to face Reading.

"They come back and we've got a lunchtime game against Sunderland on Saturday and then it's lunchtime again against Chelsea on Monday.

"Why have we got a squad if we don't use it and we did today."

Ferguson added: "We are making arrangements for some players to fly home by privately hired jet after their matches to make sure they get home as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

"Tiredness is a great leveller but we'll do our utmost to make sure we field the freshest possible teams.

"Private planes are going to cost the club an awful lot of money but it is something we feel we have to do."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m curious as to what image Real Madrid are trying to re-establish as I always thought their pre-Jose image was one of a bunch of a classless bullies tapping up whoever they wanted while living it large on borrowed money they're never going to pay back.

john matrix
Perez Will Spend Big To Forget Jose...

A

t the start of the season, after the RVP transfer, I confidently claimed that Arsenal would finish above United. I now regret it immensely.

Fuzzy_Dunlop
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

D

aniel Storey generally did very well, going against the City won it last year so they're bound to win it this time grain. As for John Nicholson, I wouldn't trust him to predict correctly what day of the week it will be tomorrow.

Griff
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

Footer 365

Hodgson's plea to supporters

Roy Hodgson has urged England fans not to sing "religious or political" songs during the friendly with the Republic of Ireland.

Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic would prefer to stay in Italy, according to his agent

The agent of Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic says that the Montenegro international hopes to stay in Italy.

Ferdinand signs new United deal

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has signed a new one-year contract to keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2014.

Mail Box

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

Mails: Jol Out And Other Demands...

You might notice that we haven't included a single mail about teams in pubs, because most of them were terrible. Instead we have a disgruntled Fulham fan and Scouse maths...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved