Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is "optimistic" about his side's title chances and believes their level is not far away from that of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The champions are just two points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester City and temporarily topped the table after beating Liverpool on Saturday. Ferguson is determined to push City all the way in a season in which he endured the disappointment of an early exit from the Champions League.
The Scot told Fifa.com: "We've had our ups and downs and we've been unlucky with injuries. Even so, we're fighting hard to win the Premiership again and there's a lot of merit in that. Obviously I'm optimistic about our chances."
He added: "We've had a lot of them (injuries), which you don't expect, and we've got people like Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher out for the whole season. You can replace your best players for a game or two, but you really notice the difference over a longer period, and that's what's happened to us."
United have reached the Champions League final three times in the past four seasons but went out at the group stage this term after two damaging results - a draw and a defeat - against Basle.
Ferguson is convinced that was merely a blip and his side can soon get back to the level of the top European sides.
He said: "I feel we had the ability to go all the way to the final. Luck wasn't on our side, but I think we've got the ambition to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid, and I don't feel we're that far away from them. I'm sure we'll show that soon."
Ferguson, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday and 25 years in charge at Old Trafford, has famously built sides around graduates of his club's youth system in the past. He accepts the homegrown production line has not been as prolific in recent times but he is confident that will change.
He added: ""A few years ago the requirement was brought in that you could only sign young players that lived within an hour-and-a-half radius of the club's headquarters.
"It wasn't like that before, which was how we were able to sign such fantastic young lads. As a result, we started to bring in very talented players from abroad and we've had success that way."
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all these dopey liverpool fans seem to have forgot that they didn't even qualify of the cl this season and as far as i can see won't be for some time to come ha ha dopey scousers
Man utd can never be on the same level as Madrid and Barca. NEVER .
Cully, and Liverpool are the team that can beat Barcelona.
18 your blip is getting bigger and starting to last a long time.
Cull comment 16.. you know what i mean i mean in the champions league final the ones who stopped us from winning the trophey.. I thought i never needed to mention this year in the champions league because fergie already said this year was a bit of a blip. If you want to get technical two champions league seasons ago i believe it was Bayern Munich that knocked us out. Teams will go through this kind of thing once in a while.. however look at our record recently aside from this season in the champions league In the last 4 years we have been in the finals 3 times winning once. You guys can throw statistics here are there about liverpool winning it 5 times and real madrid winning it 9 times and all of that .. but where have they been in the last few years? Man United suffered a blip this season fine.. but those two teams have been suffering blips the last 4 years!!
barca is class man u is class but not the same class.
the managers and trainers fail to install ideas in players minds,so play the same way all the time.
this can be seen when barca play,a delight to watch.
never ceases to amaze me the amount of lfc dimwits who log onto this man utd page,clear off,mind your own business and get your own crumbling house in order!!!!!!
so a team that didnt make passed the group stage of CL and can barely defeat their opponents in Premier League is now at the level of Barca and Madrid
Looney43 Just checked it out Real Madrid NINE time winners - Manures Three long long long way to go = even to catch LFC FIVE time winners!!!!
Quite right Loony43.. I might also add that the only team that has beaten Man United in the Champions league has been Barcelona.. they were the only ones that could? Well the name does begin with B and your are a rag so your probably not very bright but, does Basel ring any bells?
No11 Spoken like a true Manure supporter - priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Experiance of being knocked out will prove priceless in the future. The younger players need that feeling. You learn more from losing than winning.
Looney43 (7) you also lost on merit out played out classed.
well cl referees dont feel like they have to embarass themselves for manchester united or risk damage to their career. this is why they couldnt get out of the easiest group in cl history. i will be looking forward to watching them on thursday night on channel 5.
Looney43: I can only reply Istanbul =Five YNWA
@ William what is the name of the team you support and what is their record. United are proud to be in 3 CL finals in the last four years that is not by chance but merit.
Looney43, The operative word is being in three finals, winning one curtsy of JT falling over with his pen, as I recall they were humbled by Barcelona in the other two finals, what glory!!!!!!!
sean v well said
Quite right Loony43.. I might also add that the only team that has beaten Man United in the Champions league has been Barcelona.. they were the only ones that could. People always comment even our own fans about how rubbish some of our players are.. how ever those same guys they talk about, played massive roles in not only us winning the league a few times in the last few years but also getting Man United to the finals of the champions league 3 times the last few times winning once. Most teams would love to have those statistics.
@Mike don't you think having these average names you made mention of compete with the mighty whoever at barca n real Madrid is what makes Fergie and united a great team to merit some praises. Remember over the last four season united have been to the finals 3 times winning once that is a record real hasn't inch it. Do you even watch football?
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