United ‘played like champions’

MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side played like champions in last night’s 2–2 draw at West Ham.

Ferguson saw the Hammers twice take the lead beore a controversial van Persie equaliser got them a draw.

West Ham had led courtesy of goals from Ricardo Vaz Te and Mohamed Diame.

Antonio Valencia had earlier levelled for United before van Persie’s goal 17 minutes from time.

The Dutchman reacted quickest to the loose ball after Shinji Kagawa's effort hit the post, and though he appeared offside, assistant referee Harry Lennard kept his flag down.

Ferguson’s team now needs four points to win the its 20th league crown: “We had to stand up to a lot, we went down twice but we kept going. We played like champions tonight,” he said. “We’re determined to win, we don’t like losing and showed that again.”