Alex Ferguson backs ‘real’ Manchester United to roar again

Posted Saturday, October 29, 2011 by The Sun

ALEX FERGUSON has told his team to forget their derby nightmare — and get back to being the real Manchester United.

The Red Devils were hammered 6-1 at home last Sunday by fierce rivals Manchester City, who went five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

United boss Ferguson described it as the worst day of his football career.

But now he is determined everyone at the club bounces back, starting at Everton this lunchtime.

Ferguson said: "It's been a tough week for everyone. It was a bad result and we have to get over that. That's the name of the game.

"Fans, players, staff — everyone has been involved in that disappointment, so we kick on.

"My attitude is to completely forget it. It never happened. It's not going to do us any good going back on that game.

"Now we can show Manchester United in its proper light — we didn't do that last week."

Ferguson has had to cope with claims his reign at the top of English football is over plenty of times in the past — and still comes up with the silverware in May.

On the eve of United's trip to Goodison Park, he cited his club's hammering at St James' Park back in October 1996.

Fergie, 69, said: "One year we lost 5-0 to Newcastle and won the league by 10 or 11 points.

"We have been able to recover many times before — and that's what you have to do at a club like United. There's no other way.

"Expectation lives with us every minute of our lives and we get used to that.

"The game at Everton is no different. We have to recover — and seem to have done that pretty well over the years.

"Nothing changes in football. The challenge is always to be the very best, which I hope we can do now.

"It's only October, that's the important thing. The league will be decided at the beginning of May.

"It's a long way off but I would expect us to be there at the end."

United always have a battle at Goodison. Last season David Moyes' side hit two goals in the dying moments to draw 3-3, they won 3-1 the previous season and it was a 1-1 draw the campaign before that.

You have to go back to September 2007 for United's last win there.

Ferguson said: "It's never easy. I went to see Everton on Wednesday and they were all committed and put a shift in, which is typical of a David Moyes team.

"We know it's going to be a tough game and that's what our focus has to be on."

Ferguson is expected to recall Tom Cleverley, 22, to the centre of midfield for his first League start since sustaining an ankle injury at Bolton on September 10.

He played in the Carling Cup win at Aldershot in midweek and Ferguson said: "He's got the potential. Expectation lies with any United player, as we expect a certain standard.

"We gave Tom an hour on Tuesday. He'd been training for about 10 days so was in good physical condition."