Fletcher: United ‘desperate’ to bounce back

DARREN FLETCHER believes Manchester United’s players will be desperate to prove their recent setbacks are only a blip upon the return from international duty.

United’s lead at the top of the Premier League table has been whittled down to one point following back-to-back defeats by Liverpool and Fulham.

The reigning champions still have a game in hand over their title rivals, but Fletcher is disappointed there is not an immediate chance to respond to the successive losses. The international break means United must wait until April 5 before their next game against Aston Villa, with Fletcher preparing for Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers against Holland and Iceland.

Fletcher says it is easy to talk about bouncing back to form, but wants the United players to prove their intentions on the pitch. “We would have liked another game straight away to respond to a couple of difficult games, which are hopefully just a setback,’’ he said.

“It’s easy to talk about it, but you’ve got to go out on to the pitch and prove it is only a setback.

“We would have been desperate for another league game, but unfortunately the internationals have come about.

“Liverpool would have been wanting the league to continue really and not wanting the international break, so you never know, it might be something that we just have to deal with.

“I’m sure we’ll be back to winning ways, we’ve got to be.’’

He added: “It’s easy for me to say it’s only a blip, but we’ve got to go out on to the park and show it’s only a blip. “It’s easy talking about it, it’s hard to go and do it. We’ll all be desperate to go out and show when we get back that it is only a blip.

Meanwhile, United defender Rio Ferdinand is convinced the Reds Devils experience will allow them to see off Liverpool’s challenge and win a third successive Premier League crown.

United have watched a once seven point lead cut to just one point following back-to-back defeats.

It has blown the title race wide open, but Ferdinand is certain their championship know-how will prove telling.

“We need to win all the games that we have left — that’s always the case at this stage of the season,’’ he said.

“There’s no time for saying we can draw this one or that one — that’s not the game we are in at the minute.

“We have gained some great experience over the last couple of seasons that at this stage it comes down to winning at all costs, so hopefully we can lean on the experience that we have gained.’’