Euro exit has fired us up, admit United stars

THERE is a growing belief at Manchester United that the crushing blow of an early Champions League exit has provided the impetus for a sustained assault on the Premier League title rather than kill the campaign.

Even manager Alex Ferguson has struggled to find a convincing explanation for how United have managed to combine their current run of eight wins in nine league games with bowing out of Europe’s number one competition at the group stage, being hammered at home by Manchester City and dumped out of the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace.

While few are convinced by Ferguson’s continued assertion that his midfield is strong enough to cope with every demand, given their current form maybe there is something in the Scot’s equally vehement claim the present United trophy contenders have quality in abundance.

And, according to Antonio Valencia and Patrice Evra, who both made impressive contributions to the 5-0 win over Wigan on St Stephen’s Day, there is also a renewed sense of purpose.

“The biggest blow was the Champions League because we are a big club and we are expected to be fighting to win the competition, not just qualifying from the group stages,” said Valencia.

“We reached the final last year and it hurts to go out so early.

“But we are using that hurt. The group now tries even harder in training and we are going into games with a determined attitude because we’ve got to win something, whether it is the Premier League, Europa League or FA Cup. We have to make sure we are involved in those trophies and we have a renewed focus.”

Evra, who has taken on the responsibility of captaincy after Nemanja Vidic was ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, shares many of Ecuadorian Valencia’s sentiments.

“Going out of the Champions League was a wake-up call,” Evra said.

“Everyone began to look in the mirror and say we could do much better. The fans expect what we are doing now.

“But nothing is easy. If we stop working hard and think we will only win things with the Manchester United name, everything will be wrong. We have to keep our momentum going and trust each other.”

It is the basis upon which Ferguson’s entire managerial ethos rests.

While outsiders may continue to question him as he approaches his 70th birthday, the United boss looks at his squad and backs them to deliver.

And, so many times, they do.

The latest example of a player coming good is Dimitar Berbatov, whose contribution has been reducing for almost 12 months.

United’s £30.75million record signing did not even make the bench for last season’s Champions League final and had started just one Premier League game in this campaign prior to the visit of Wigan.

Yet he was the one who walked off with the match ball.

“I am always happy when Dimitar is scoring,” said Evra. “He is a nice guy who has had some difficult moments because he hasn’t played a lot. But when you see the strikers we have got; Danny Welbeck is on fire, then there is Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney. This is the life at Manchester United. We have to keep the competition for every place. Everyone has to fight.”