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."