Alex Ferguson plans to make Jose Mourinho eat his words by proving the Quadruple is not an impossible dream.
Mourinho claimed no club could achieve the feat after Chelsea came unstuck in their bid to win four trophies last season — the Premier League, Champions League and FA and Carling Cups.
Rio Ferdinand has already insisted Manchester United will be gunning for the Quad this season.And Fergie backed up his England star by vowing they will “have a go”.
The United boss believes his squad has the strength in depth this year to retain their title and prove unstoppable in the knockout competitions.
He said: “We have a good squad plus a few decent young players for the League Cup and back-up in the Champions League, so we’ll have a go.
“Hopefully we can enhance our chances by playing the right kind of football and getting the right results.”
As well as thwarting Chelsea’s bid for a hat-trick of Premier League titles last season, United reached the FA Cup final — losing 1-0 to Mourinho’s men — and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League by eventual winners AC Milan.
They were bundled out of the Carling Cup at the second hurdle by lowly Southend but Fergie clearly intends treating that tournament more seriously this time.
Chelsea, runners-up in the League, won the Carling Cup as well as the FA Cup and, like United, were beaten in the Champions League semis.
According to Mourinho, their punishing schedule proved too much for any team to handle.
He said: “I keep saying that I don’t believe anyone can do it. Even when Chelsea were in a position to do it last season, I still didn’t think we could.
“Manchester United were out of the Carling Cup so even when they were doing well in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, they couldn’t do the Quadruple. I don’t think it’s possible.”
FergieÂ’s belief United can end up with a trophy cabinet full of silverware is based on the quality buys he has brought in over the summer.
He is still hopeful of signing Carlos Tevez and is thrilled by the arrival of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Brazilian playmaker Anderson and Portuguese winger Nani.
