United we must stand, says Ferguson as criticism mounts

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has emphasised the need for his players to stand together in the face of mounting criticism.

Ferguson has proved to be a master psychologist over the years, developing a them-and-us attitude at Old Trafford which has proved the bedrock for years of success.

Over the past few weeks alone, the club has had to deal with the apparently never-ending controversy surrounding captain Roy Keane, an unexpected Champions League defeat at the hands of Hungarian minnows Zalaegerszeg and now a club-versus-country row following the removal of David Beckham from the England squad to play Portugal.