Manchester United launch their bid to secure a hat-trick of
Premier League titles this weekend. And manager Sir Alex Ferguson
is confident about his team’s chances and unfazed by rivals
Chelsea’s taunts that they have already peaked.
Ferguson says his players are ready to prove, starting against
Newcastle at Old Trafford on Sunday, that they do have more gears
to move up to.
"That is a challenge for us," he told the Manchester Evening
News.
"With the young players we have like Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney,
Nani there is improvement there. Our players have the capacity to
improve. So we'll see.
"I am optimistic because I see no deterioration. We have to protect
the dinosaurs a little bit more - Giggs, Scholes and Gary Neville -
but they are fit guys.
"Giggs' endurance tests were the best in the club this summer.
Unbelievable. He will play a lot of games for us. He is lucky
because he has never carried any weight. He has always looked after
himself.
"Scholes and Neville are much the same. There's a lot of football
left in them. Edwin van der Sar is the normal van der Sar. He is
looking fantastic for his age and he is a great example of how to
look after yourself and give yourself extra years.
“I am expecting a natural progression from the younger ones. It
is the same as what I said about Rooney and Ronaldo last
season.
"A year ago I was asked if Ronaldo could score more than 23 goals
and I replied that I was looking for improvement.
"Improvement can come in different ways for Ronaldo this season.
Forty-two goals is a target, it is still possible for him to
achieve it given the talent of the boy and his goal-scoring ability
but you have to say it's a big target for him.
"Where you will see the improvement is in his authority and
decision-making which comes with experience, which gives you a lot
of things, timing especially."
Ferguson added of Ronaldo, who is recovering from ankle surgery but
expected to return to action ahead of schedule:
"There has been no problem at all. His progress has been great, he
has never missed a session, morning or afternoon.
"He has been doing excellent. He is well ahead of schedule."