Sir Alex aims to stay ahead

Experience of going the distance so many times is something that the manager believes will, as ever, stand his team in good stead for the season's finale.

"Most of the players have had the experience... Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Rooney," added Sir Alex. "There are some of the young ones that aren’t accustomed to it like Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young, David De Gea, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. You've got the likes of Fabio and Rafael who have been involved for two or three years so they’re used to it; both have been in European final squads as well. They gather experience that way. It hopefully helps them in the run-in.

"I think Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes and Carrick help in that situation. If they were to lose their nerve then we would be in trouble! But I don’t expect that, I think they’re well accustomed to it."

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