Manchester United face toughest title defence, says Darren Fletcher

Posted Friday, September 16, 2011 by theguardian.com

• Midfielder thinks Chelsea and Liverpool are strong contenders
• Scot admits it will be hard to regain his place in the team

Darren Fletcher, left, battles with Benfica's Pablo AImar on his return after illness to the Manchester United starting XI.

The Estádio da Luz was a fitting venue for Darren Fletcher's first start for Manchester United since contracting the mystery virus that cost him a stone in weight and consigned him to bed for a fortnight. Six months on he can see the light, though Scotland's captain admits regaining a first-team role and retaining the Premier League title represent the toughest challenges that he and United have faced.

Manchester's clubs added England's presence in the Champions League on Wednesday night to their early, flawless dominance of the Premier League, but the midfielder insists the title contenders are not concentrated in one city. The 27-year-old submits Chelsea, Sunday's visitors to Old Trafford, as evidence that this season's field is the strongest he has encountered and why there can be no complacency from United or City.

"I think Chelsea have been overlooked," Fletcher said. "Chelsea started the season on fire last year, but didn't win the league, so we have to be careful. Chelsea are a top side with a lot of experience. They have a new manager and they have brought younger, fresher and exciting players in. Liverpool have signed players as well, so it's a tough league to play in this season. Although the two Manchester clubs have started well, the other teams are going to be dangerous. With the quality of the teams in the league this year, I think it will be our biggest test so far to go and win the title."

A formidable task lies ahead on a personal level too. Fletcher's last start for United before the 1-1 draw in Benfica came at Chelsea in March, when his inclusion on the big occasion was almost guaranteed. Now the Scotland international feels he is starting anew, and not solely as a consequence of missing last season's run-in and most of pre-season through illness.

"Sunday is definitely a game for the older heads," he claimed, though purely in the hope that Ferguson will be listening. "But, seriously, the lads have been fantastic. Since the start of the season, the younger lads have come into the squad and it has been a breath of fresh air and the results speak for that. Long may it continue, but it is going to be difficult to get back in. It is a challenge for me, but one I am looking forward to."

Fletcher lasted 69 minutes in Lisbon before a demanding occasion took its toll and even with Tom Cleverley out for four weeks with ankle ligament damage, he accepts there is no easy route back. He added: "Although it is a squad game, you want to be playing, obviously, but I have been in their position – young, playing well and in the team – and it's great when you have the experienced players around you. I was helped along and I will do the same for them because it all goes towards making United successful. You have got to earn the right to play for Manchester United, but the young players are doing that now."

Anders Lindegaard is not part of United's young brigade at 27 but he was the latest newcomer to seize his opportunity when it arose in Portugal. The Denmark goalkeeper produced a commanding performance against Benfica, particularly with two late saves from the substitute Nolito and the impressive Nicolás Gaitán, and believes the competition to be No1 at Old Trafford remains wide open between himself and David de Gea.

"I have not had many opportunities to show who I am, but this was one of them and it was a big game," said Lindegaard. "It shows how good the competition is. It is not as clear as it was last year – who is first and who is second. It's the manager's decision. I do my best every day in training and take care of my opportunities when I get them and I enjoyed this game very much.

"It was like a childhood dream coming true. The reflex save I made in the second-half I would never have made while in Norway or Denmark. It just goes to show how much I am improving since coming to Manchester United. Alex Ferguson has helped me a lot."

United paid £3.5m to sign Lindegaard from Aalesund; £18.3m to prise De Gea from Atlético Madrid. The former, however, is confident price will not be a factor in deciding who establishes themselves as Edwin van der Sar's long-term successor. The Dane added: "Do you expect me to say I'm happy to be No2? That's not how it is. I am here because I want to be No1. If you are good enough you're going to play, it's as simple as that. I do as well as I can when I get the chances and in the end if I am good enough I am going to be No1."