Sir Alex Ferguson admits the confidence Manchester United are playing with is giving him hope they can achieve whatever they want this year.Ferguson's men face Roma on Tuesday in the Champions League on the back of a rousing 4-0 victory against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

With six games remaining, and an astonishing goal difference of 53, United are homing in on retaining their Premier League title.

They could hardly be in better shape as they prepare to fly out to Italy on Monday ahead of the quarter-final first-leg match.

Ferguson said: "The ones who won the title last year realise it is not easy.

"The ones who want to win a medal for the first time, they are showing great energy and enthusiasm.

"When you see the confidence of the team, the football they can play, you know you have a chance.

"The important thing - and I am old enough to know it - you must not get carried away and we won't.

"Right until the last game we will keep playing our game and give it everything."

United have attacking riches in abundance and Villa simply could not cope with the pace, intelligence and quick-thinking of their opponents.

England striker Wayne Rooney ended his six-match goal drought with a couple of cool finishes in the second half to put the seal on an wonderful all-round display by the front-runners.

The irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo made the breakthrough with a cute back heel through the legs of central defender Martin Laursen.

It was the Portugal winger's 35th goal of a remarkable season, leaving Villa boss Martin O'Neill to claim: "He is the finest player in the world at the moment and Rooney is not a distance behind him."

Carlos Tevez made it 2-0 before half-time with a close-range header as United made light of the driving rain by spraying the ball around as if it was a glorious summer's day.

Rooney was pleased to have rediscovered his scoring touch and said: "A few people have been talking about it but the main thing is we have been winning games.

"It was a well-deserved three points. Some of our passing and movement was brilliant.

"I love it when we play like that and it was a great goal by Cristiano, unbelievable.

"We have just got to keep focussing with six games left and keep the winning habit."

More Football News from TEAMtalk