Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has taken time out to heap praise on the clubÂ’s back four, claiming United are set to win the league title thanks to them.
United currently lie joint-top with rivals Arsenal having won eight of their last nine games, the most recent of which was against Reading at the weekend.
"We had to work really hard and defend as a group" Ferguson told MUTV.
"There's a good understanding of the importance of the defensive part of our game and we're better than we were last season in that sense.
"We're into the run-in now. After new year the games start to drop off very quickly and before you know it you're down to the last few. We're trying to stay focused and not get carried away.
"The players know they're going to have to work hard to win this title. But we've got a good squad and I think we're improving in certain aspects of our play."