Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side
have to be realistic about their chances of silverware this season,
with the chance of success still alive on four fronts.
Having secured the Club World Cup in recent weeks, the Red Devils
are still in the hunt for their third Premier League title in as
many years, they face Inter Milan in the last-16 of the Champions
League, while they have also reached the semi-final of the Carling
Cup.
Added to that, their FA Cup participation begins in the New Year,
meaning that the domestic, European and world champions could wind
up the season in possession of five major trophies.
However, while Ferguson acknowledges how great an achievement that
would be, he believes it would require as much luck as skill due to
the increasing demands on top-flight squads.
"To win one major trophy is unusual but nice all the time,"
Ferguson told the Daily Star.
"But there is no chance of winning all four competitions we are
left in this season. It is appetising and we will have that
opportunity if we are still in them all come March and April, but
it is not realistic.
"I won't be making any ridiculous statements about winning the lot.
We would have to be very lucky in terms of everyone still being fit
and we have got a job to do in the league.”
Ferguson went on to express his satisfaction with the Old Trafford
side’s start in the Premier League, believing that it has provided
firm foundations for a solid title defence.
"Our start has been very difficult. Every game we have had after a
European match has been away from home. And when we came back from
Japan we were away again at Stoke on Boxing Day,” he
continued.
"We have also had away games against all the top sides. So our
start has been satisfactory, but not perfect at the moment. We are
in a very competitive league, but we still have a good chance of
keeping our title."
