Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United must treat
every game as "must-win" as they look to put pressure on Premier
League leaders Chelsea.
United had fallen eight points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men
prior to kick-off against Everton at Old Trafford tonight and for
half an hour they looked like the gap would prove difficult to
close.
Darren Fletcher's brilliant volley ended such fears and with
Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia also finding the net after
half-time, the Red Devils were able to celebrate their biggest win
since August.
"We have to look at all the games as must-win now," said
Ferguson.
"We need to get on a run and be somewhere near the top of the
league by New Year's Day. Then, in the second half of the season we
can have a real go and give ourselves a chance."
With their place in the Champions League knock-out phase secure
already, Ferguson can make plenty of changes for Wednesday's
encounter with Besiktas and keep his preferred team fresh for the
long trip to Portsmouth on Saturday.
It is a fair bet Fletcher will be involved at Fratton Park after
another fine performance.
Over the last 12 months, Fletcher's reputation has soared.
Ferguson is obviously well aware of his fellow countryman's
abilities at shutting down the opposition.
But the United manager admitted Fletcher's volley took him by
surprise.
"Darren is an improving player," said Ferguson.
"Each year we have seen his performance level go up and up and
it is still doing so.
"But I have to admit I did not expect that goal. It was really
well taken."
Ferguson was equally delighted by a clean sheet that was
achieved without the talents of Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and
Johnny Evans, who were all ruled out through injury, plus Gary
Neville, who was serving the last game of a three-match
suspension.
"That is probably the most important part of the win," said
Ferguson.
"When we defend properly and do our jobs, as we did tonight, it
gives us a big chance of winning the league."
Ferguson confirmed neither Evans nor Dimitar Berbatov will be
fit enough for Wednesday, although they could be available for the
Portsmouth encounter.
Everton manager David Moyes admitted his side were beaten by the
better side and denied he got his tactics wrong after starting the
game with a lone frontman in Louis Saha, only to introduce Ayegbeni
Yakubu at half-time to provide some support after his side had been
completely outplayed.
"It is easy to say certain things but unless you are the manager
thinking about the best formation to stop Manchester United, you
can't really know," he countered.
"The fact is when we went two up front we conceded two goals, so
there is no guarantee we would have done any better.
"We did not do enough to get a result and we cannot complain at
the outcome."
Moyes confirmed Marouane Fellaini's fifth booking of the season
means he will miss Wednesday's trip to Hull, further stretching an
already injury-hit squad.
"We are struggling to get a balance to the team," he
admitted.
"We are trying to find a winning formation but it has not been
easy."
United had fallen eight points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men
prior to kick-off against Everton at Old Trafford tonight and for
half an hour they looked like the gap would prove difficult to
close.
Darren Fletcher's brilliant volley ended such fears and with
Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia also finding the net after
half-time, the Red Devils were able to celebrate their biggest win
since August.
"We have to look at all the games as must-win now," said
Ferguson.
"We need to get on a run and be somewhere near the top of the
league by New Year's Day. Then, in the second half of the season we
can have a real go and give ourselves a chance."
With their place in the Champions League knock-out phase secure
already, Ferguson can make plenty of changes for Wednesday's
encounter with Besiktas and keep his preferred team fresh for the
long trip to Portsmouth on Saturday.
It is a fair bet Fletcher will be involved at Fratton Park after
another fine performance.
Over the last 12 months, Fletcher's reputation has soared.
Ferguson is obviously well aware of his fellow countryman's
abilities at shutting down the opposition.
But the United manager admitted Fletcher's volley took him by
surprise.
"Darren is an improving player," said Ferguson.
"Each year we have seen his performance level go up and up and
it is still doing so.
"But I have to admit I did not expect that goal. It was really
well taken."
Ferguson was equally delighted by a clean sheet that was
achieved without the talents of Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and
Johnny Evans, who were all ruled out through injury, plus Gary
Neville, who was serving the last game of a three-match
suspension.
"That is probably the most important part of the win," said
Ferguson.
"When we defend properly and do our jobs, as we did tonight, it
gives us a big chance of winning the league."
Ferguson confirmed neither Evans nor Dimitar Berbatov will be
fit enough for Wednesday, although they could be available for the
Portsmouth encounter.
Everton manager David Moyes admitted his side were beaten by the
better side and denied he got his tactics wrong after starting the
game with a lone frontman in Louis Saha, only to introduce Ayegbeni
Yakubu at half-time to provide some support after his side had been
completely outplayed.
"It is easy to say certain things but unless you are the manager
thinking about the best formation to stop Manchester United, you
can't really know," he countered.
"The fact is when we went two up front we conceded two goals, so
there is no guarantee we would have done any better.
"We did not do enough to get a result and we cannot complain at
the outcome."
Moyes confirmed Marouane Fellaini's fifth booking of the season
means he will miss Wednesday's trip to Hull, further stretching an
already injury-hit squad.
"We are struggling to get a balance to the team," he
admitted.
"We are trying to find a winning formation but it has not been
easy."