Vital United claim all-important second spot, says Fletcher

DARREN FLETCHER has admitted it is imperative Manchester United do not finish below second spot in the Premiership this term.

Not only did Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Blackburn end any realistic hope of the Red Devils overhauling champions-elect Chelsea, it also allowed Arsenal to push them back into third following their comfortable victory over Norwich.

Unless United can reverse positions with the Gunners over the final seven games, for the second season running they will start their campaign with a potentially hazardous Champions League qualifier.

Aside from an immediate £2million loss in revenue from the world’s most lucrative club competition, it also raises the spectre of elimination before the tournament even begins, an unthinkable prospect for Ferguson and chief executive David Gill.

Though United eased past Dinamo Bucharest 5-1 on aggregate, in this season’s qualifier, they did fall behind to the Romanians in the first leg and Ferguson will need no reminding of the embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Hungarian unknowns Zalaegerszeg at the same stage three years ago.

United eventually overcame that shock with an easy win at Old Trafford but with the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow, Hajduk Split, Dynamo Kiev and Partizan Belgrade, conquerors of Newcastle in the 2003-04 qualifiers all likely to be lying in wait, Fletcher acknowledges the need for automatic qualification.

“It is vital we qualify for the Champions League by finishing second,” he said.

“We do not want to be going to Eastern Europe for a qualifier with no competitive games behind us, to play a team who have already started their season and are fresh.

“The Champions League is a massive competition for us and any slip-up at that stage would be disastrous.”

Despite losing just three of their 40 matches in domestic competitions this season, some critics are ready to write United’s campaign off as a total failure.

At most other clubs, a place in the top three and qualification for the semi-finals of both the FA and League Cups would be regarded as a success.

Not at United though, a situation Fletcher and his team-mates accept judging by the mood at their training complex yesterday.

“There is a high expectation level here, but that is one of the reasons why you want to play for Manchester United,” said Fletcher, who is unlikely to return from his knee injury for another fortnight.

“Everyone was disappointed in training yesterday because we realise we are in a battle for second place now.

“We were hoping Chelsea would slip up, but that looks highly unlikely now, so we have to try and get above Arsenal.

“And don’t forget, we also have the FA Cup to play for.”