Euro blow fires United title push

THERE is a growing belief at Manchester United that the crushing blow of an early Champions League exit has provided the impetus for a sustained assault on the Premier League title.

Even manager Sir Alex Ferguson has struggled to find a convincing explanation for how United have managed to combine their current run of eight wins in nine league games with bowing out of Europe’s number one competition at the group stage, being hammered at home by Manchester City and dumped out of the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace.

While few are convinced by Ferguson’s continued assertion that his midfield is strong enough to cope with every demand, given their current form maybe there is something in the Scot’s equally vehement claim the present United trophy contenders have quality in abundance.

And, according to Patrice Evra, who made an impressive contribution in the 5–0 win over Wigan, there is also a renewed sense of purpose.

Evra, who has taken on the responsibility of captaincy after Nemanja Vidic was ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, said: “Going out of the Champions League was a wake–up call,” Evra said.

“Everyone began to look in the mirror and say we could do much better. The fans expect what we are doing now.

“But nothing is easy. If we stop working hard and think we will only win things with the Manchester United name, everything will be wrong.

“We have to keep our momentum going and trust each other.”

One player who has helped to keep up United’s momentum was Dimitar Berbatov.

United’s £30.75million record signing did not even make the bench for last season’s Champions League final and had started just one Premier League game in this campaign prior to the Boxing Day encounter against Wigan.

Yet he was the one who walked off with the match ball.

Meanwhile, victory over bottom side Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Eve would provide Ferguson with the perfect 70th birthday present of a three–point lead at the Premier League summit given Manchester City are not in action at Sunderland until 24 hours later.