I have the best - Fergie

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes he possesses the best squad in the Premier League.

After a slow start to the season,The Red Devils have now hit their stride and a run of only one defeat in 23 matches in all competitions sees them topping the table.

In addition, United's defence has been impregnable of late after going a record-breaking 13 league matches without conceding a single goal.

After being questioned on Ferguson's best side, the vastly-experienced Scottish tactician said he does not have a favourite starting XI, insisting that it is now a squad game.

With United going strong in every competition this season, the Old Trafford chief believes he possesses the strongest squad in England's top flight.

"People sometimes ask me what I consider to be my best side, and the short answer is that I don't have one," said Ferguson.

"I select the team that I consider is the best for each particular match. I have got a great many factors in mind, ranging from the tactical to who needs a rest and who we play in the next game.

"I can give you my best 14 or 15, but better than that, all I can say is that is a squad game and that we have a damn fine squad. In fact it is the best.

"Everyone has done so well and rallied around when we have had injuries that I'm beginning to dread picking the team.

"I feel guilty when I am forced to leave someone out who has not only done nothing wrong but who has played exceptionally well. It puts the club in a strong position, of course, but it doesn't make the manager's job very easy."

The 2008/09 campaign is now at the business end of the season and Ferguson is pleased his troops are showing the grit and determination needed to retain their Premier League title.

"We're at the time of the season where you expect the players to kick on," he continued. "We've seen it over the years.

"The present group I've got seem to have a gear where they can find. For instance, when we went to Stoke it was lively pitch and we'd just got back from Japan but we scraped a result because we never gave in.

"It was an important marker to lay down and, having come back from the World Club Cup in Japan, we needed to win that game. Once we won that, we've gone on."

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Clough hopes 4 another win over United

The Derby County manager Nigel Clough is hoping for another shock result against the Premier League champions in tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round tie.

Just over five weeks ago, Clough, who had been appointed to manager the Rams the day before, watched from the Pride Park stands as Derby beat Manchester United 1-0 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

It was a weakened United side that played that night, and although Derby were defeated 4-2 in the second leg at Old Trafford, they still caused Ferguson’s side problems – Clough’s side scored three in total against a United defence that has not been penetrated in the league since 8 November.

Although Ferguson has conceded the FA Cup is low on his list of priorities as his team chase five trophies, Clough is convinced he will not want to be embarrassed again.

“We showed we could cause them problems over the two matches, and certainly we did down here,” said Clough. “Defensively in the first half at Old Trafford we weren’t very good and that is why we lost the tie at Old Trafford. But going forward we created chances, scoring three goals in the two games, which is a rarity against United these days.

“Certainly, I think the home leg will have a bearing, even though there are bigger competitions in their eyes, given the Champions League and Premier League.

“I think they will be a bit more cautious. If they had come here and won two or three nil, he [Ferguson] would probably think he could put the same side out and do it again. But there will be a little doubt there, and in the players’ minds as well we hope.

“All we have to do is relax and play. There’s no point getting too nervous, too het up, and think we’re playing Manchester United, the best team in the country, the world. We just have to say ‘Hold on a minute’, calm ourselves down and play our stuff as well. It’s very important we do that.

“We’re preparing exactly the same for them as for anybody, the same as it will be for Blackpool on Wednesday – which I hasten to add is a more important game for us.”

The Rams are without the suspended Jay McEveley, whilst Luke Varney is sidelined with a groin strain.

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Rooney to miss Derby county clash??

Manchester United will not jeopardise Wayne Rooney's fitness by rushing him back to action for Sunday's FA Cup tie at Derby.

Rooney has been absent with a hamstring injury for almost two months and was expected to return at West Ham last Sunday.

However, the England striker was left out for the win at Upton Park and seems unlikely to be risked this weekend either as the Red Devils chase a quarter-final place.

With the first leg of their Champions League knock-out clash against Inter Milan due to be played at the San Siro on February 24, United are not keen to risk Rooney just now.

So, the chances are Rooney will not be considered until next Wednesday's Premier League encounter with Fulham at Old Trafford.

"We are still assessing Wayne," said United assistant-boss Mike Phelan.

"He has done a little bit of work but we are not going to rush that situation because we have important games. We will ease him back in as quickly as we can.

"If he is available terrific, if not we will look at it for the next game against Fulham because we would never jeopardise anything."

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Glory Glory Man United - Lyrics

Glory Glory Man United is the football chant sung by the fans of Manchester United FC. Manchester United fans have been singing this song since the early 1980s.Manchester United fans claim that this song was adapted in the 1960s but with the lines 'In Seventy-Seven it was Docherty, Atkinson will make it Eighty-Three' prove that this song was adapted much later than claimed. It is in fact Tottenham Hotspur that used the song in the Glory Days during the 1960s, as well as Hibernian FC who recorded 'glory glory to the hibees', also in the 1960s.

Here are the lyrics...

Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
As the reds go marching up up up!

Just like the busby days and days gone by,
We’ll keep the red flags flying high,
Your gonna see us all from far and wide,
Your gonna hear the Mans that sing with pride.

United, Man united,
We’re the boys in red and we're on our way to Wemberly!

Wemberly, Wemberly,
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wemberly,
Wemberly, Wemberly,
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wemberly

In ’77 in the stockham team,
Back in December '83,
And everyone will no just who we are,
They'll be singing que sera sera

United, Man united,
We’re the boys in red and we're on our way to Wemberly!

Wemberly, Wemberly,
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wemberly,
Wemberly, Wemberly,
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wemberly

Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
As the reds go marching up up up!

Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
As the reds go marching up up up!

Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
As the reds go marching up up up!
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