Our character will see us through - Fergie

Posted Saturday, March 12, 2011 by Supersport.com

Sir Alex Ferguson says his Manchester United side will draw on all their experience and character to get them over the finishing line this season.

United face Arsenal in an FA Cup quarterfinal showdown at Old Trafford on Saturday after back-to-back Premier League defeats that have eroded their lead at the top of the table in the closing stages of the campaign.

Ironically it is Saturday's visitors Arsenal who are best placed to capitalise on United's failure to hit top gear.

But Ferguson backed his players to keep their heads and demonstrate their resilience in the run-in.

"We have that experience to recover. It’s happened a few times," Ferguson told reporters on Friday.

"At any club you never go through a period of the season where everything is rosy. When you get the bad moments you have to recover from it. It's another day in the history of Manchester United.

"That's what it is and you take that history into games. The ability to do so over the years is a tremendous credit to every team we've had here."

Manchester United have a big Champions League tie with Marseille on Tuesday to spark a key run of games that could shape their season.

The prospect of silverware remains on the club's radar, with Ferguson’s side fighting on three fronts.

"We've got to look forward. There’s big opportunities at the club and we have a lot of challenges ahead for the rest of the season," he said.

"It's terrific to be involved in March, when every game you play is of an importance.

"We have pretty important games coming up. We have Marseille on Tuesday and then we have Bolton in a league game. It goes on and on.

"That's why you hope to get to March and be involved in all these things, and we are."

Ferguson confirmed that winger Nani will not return to action until after this month's international break.

The Portugal international departed on a stretcher in their 3-1 defeat at Anfield last time out after sustaining a deep gash in a first-half tackle by Jamie Carragher.

The Liverpool defender was shown a yellow card by referee Phil Dowd although replays show that Carragher was lucky to escape red.

Ferguson revealed that Nani will sit out the next few games in a body blow to the club's end-of-season prospects.

"We have managed to stitch the injury, which is good news," Ferguson said.

"We need to guard against infection and swelling. It is difficult to say exactly when he will be ready to return but we won't get him back for the Bolton match next Saturday."

Antonio Valencia is at least closing in on a return after seven months out with an ankle ligament injury.

The Ecuadorean is set to figure in the run-in, even though the veteran Scot refuses to rush the winger back after such a serious injury setback.

"It's a more difficult one to assess in the fact he’s been out for so long.

"He's training very well and taking part in a few private matches between the players.

"It's deciding when to put him in the cut and thrust of a real game because, as you know, timing and being out for so long is a question mark. But at some point you are going to have to try it."