Ferguson added, however, that Rooney would be the first to point out that to a certain extent he is only as good as those playing around him.

It took us a while to get the first goal, but we had a lot of pressure, a lot of possession and we were patient enough, Ferguson told MUTV. I think that's important, especially when teams come and sit there, like they did today. They were...

It's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining England, said Ferguson.

Ferguson said: It took us a while to get going but we were patient. Teams come here to make it difficult but after the second goal it opened it up for us and we've gone to win well. Rooney is in great form - it was a great opportunity to take him...

Ferguson said: We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining his country. Over the years we've had Gary, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we're very proud of that.

It took us a while to get the first goal, but we had a lot of pressure, a lot of possession and we were patient enough, Ferguson said. I think that's important, especially when teams come and sit there, like they did today. They were there...

With Aston Villa next up on Wednesday, Ferguson said: He is in great form. It was a great opportunity for us to give him a rest. We had fresh players to come on like Mame Diouf and Michael Owen.

Chelsea could go back to the top on Sunday when they face Arsenal but Ferguson added: I don't know if I'll watch it or not because I am going up to Glasgow - but I'll be thinking about it.

We had a lot of pressure and possession of the ball but we were patient enough. That's important when teams come and sit in the way they did here, Ferguson said. We were a bit fortunate with the second goal but nonetheless you have to take...

He said: We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining England. Over the years we've had Gary Neville, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we're very proud of that.

Ferguson said: We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining our country. Over the years we've had Gary, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we're very proud of that.

Ferguson said of Rooney: He is in great form. It was a great opportunity for us to give him a rest. We had fresh players to come on like Mame Diouf and Michael Owen.

Chelsea could go back to the top when they face Arsenal but Ferguson added: I don't know if I'll watch it or not because I am going up to Glasgow - but I'll be thinking about it.

We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining the country, United manager Alex Ferguson said Saturday. Over the years we've had Gary (Neville), Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd...

I had forgotten Chelsea were playing, he commented. I thought they were playing on Wednesday. I was coming home and heard it was 1-1, so that was a surprise for me.

The Reds welcome bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth to Old Trafford for a game Sir Alex described as one we have to win.

Historically, we have always grasped the nettle at this time of the year, Ferguson said. The players realise there is something at stake and we can't afford inconsistency. Teams will drop points in every run-in, but we are experienced and...

Historically we have always grasped the nettle at this time of the year, said Ferguson. They realise there is something at stake and we cannot afford inconsistency. I have said repeatedly in the run-in, teams will drop points. There is no...

Ferguson said: It was a massive game against Arsenal last week. We were in great form and it was a very good performance. Hopefully this is kick-on time. Each game towards the finishing tape becomes more important. It doesn't matter who it...

Owen could still be an important player for England, said Ferguson. It is not like Ledley King. If he comes back the confidence would come back. If he started playing the confidence would be the key factor.

They are under the same controls and the same directions, Ferguson said. One says yes in the case of Rio and one says no in the case of Javier Mascherano when he punched a player in the back of the head. When you see that example, we don't...

He said: It's hard for him, of course. He's been out for a year and a half. It's bound to be hard for him. The physios are doing their best with him. There are some times we feel he's almost there, and then he seems to be slow again. I'm confident...

In the case of Nani, like Rooney, I think we are seeing a player who is maturing, said Ferguson. He's a young lad who has come in from a different country and he has taken more time than some of the others to settle. But that sometimes...

It is kick-on time for us now, Ferguson said. The Arsenal win was massive for us because they are in great form. Each game that comes along on the run towards the finishing tape becomes more important. It doesn't matter who it is, we want...

When he was giving his thoughts at his weekly press conference, he said: He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefully he does.

I can't for the love of me understand how he's coping with that, Ferguson said of the former Chelsea manager. He's a football man, that's the problem for Avram. Being a football man he wants to be in football, but he's got back in (the...

Vidic has trained for the last few days and hopefully that will bring him into contention for Saturday. Everyone else is okay, manager Alex Ferguson told United's website (www.manutd.com)

Maybe watching has been the best thing for him, said Ferguson. He has shown maturity in his last three games, which we always felt was the key. The assets have always been there. What we have looked for is consistency. We are pleased for...

I don't think he was overshadowed by Ronaldo. It was just a question of maturity, said Ferguson. Nani was young when he came here and he is quite a shy boy. Some players can adjust to coming to another country and joining Manchester United...

It would be nice to think we could get to the (Champions League) final and have Owen Hargreaves available but we're not in the cup final, Ferguson said. We've got AC Milan in 10 days or two weeks time and really we need to win that game....

We've appealed that and the word that concerns us is 'frivolous', Ferguson said. The reason for appealing was that in the case of Mascherano against Leeds United, when he punched a player in the back of the head (he did not get charged)....

Ferguson added: It gives us a chance and the game is the kind of game we have always navigated quite well. I watched Portsmouth on Wednesday and they were unlucky in the match and could have got something from it but when you down there is...

Rafa got a knock against Arsenal, but hopefully he'll train today, the boss told reporters at Friday's pre-match press conference. Vidic has trained for the last few days and hopefully that will bring him into contention for Saturday....

Speaking about his decision to omit Hargreaves from his final 25-man squad eligible to play in Europe, Ferguson added: It would be nice to think we could get to the European Cup final and have Owen Hargreaves available. But we are not there. We...

Ferguson said: He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefully he does.

He said: Owen's recovery is slow. It is a year and a half now and I can't put a time on it. But he will be back. He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefully he does.

It would be nice to think we could get to the European Cup final and have Owen Hargreaves available, said Ferguson. But we are not there. We have AC Milan in 10 days' time and we need to win that game. If I was choosing Owen I would have...

The boy's very happy at the club, said the United manager. I know that, we've always known that. He's very popular among the players, he couldn't be a better lad really. He's a really down to earth boy. He'll not change because that's the...

I was part-time and in a reserve game against Airdrie I broke my eyesocket, cheekbone and nose and was out for months. They put this massive plaster cast on my face, Ferguson told students in Glasgow on Thursday, with his comments carried on...

I was part-time and in a reserve game against Airdrie I broke my eyebrow, cheekbone and nose and was out for months. They put this massive plaster cast on my face, he said. After I came back from the injury I played three reserve games. We...

Young players now are more fragile, they are more cocooned, said Sir Alex. They are encouraged by an insatiable press, to think they are better than they really are, and they are protected by their agents. But you have to deal with that in...

He said: Young players now are more fragile, they are more cocooned. They are encouraged by an insatiable press to think they are better than they really are, and they are protected by their agents. But you have to deal with that in sport now. You...

It is a process and, hopefully, we get to the point where he feels confident about playing, Ferguson said at the time.

He said at the time: This is a dream come true. I've been a season ticket holder at United for 45 years and the opportunity to be an official partner was a deal I could not pass up......This deal is about associating ourselves with the world's...

Young players now are more fragile, they are more cocooned, said Ferguson in manutd.com. They are encouraged by an insatiable press, to think they are better than they really are, and they are protected by their agents. But you have to...

Ferguson sees the tie as United's biggest fixture of the season so far and said: I think so, yes. The European Cup is always special to us and we've had some marvellous nights at Old Trafford. I just hope we have another one. We're away from home...