Wing kings thrill Sir Alex

Sir Alex was delighted with United's width in the 4-1 defeat of Wolves as Nani and Antonio Valencia produced outstanding individual performances.

The two wingers led the visiting defence a merry dance and their positivity from the outset enabled the champions to dominate and create a host of chances. Nani scored twice himself with Wayne Rooney also back amongst the goals with a double.

After the disappointment in Basel, it was important for the Reds to respond in the right way and the manager had no complaints about his players.

"We were pleased with that," he told MUTV. "On Wednesday, we worked our socks off and didn’t get a break. Today we worked our socks off and we did get a break. Some of the football was fantastic and obviously getting the second goal relaxed everyone. I know Wolves scored just after half-time but they deserved that because they keep crossing the ball into the box and they’re a real threat from those crosses.

"I thought the wide positions were a problem for Wolves today. I think we kept their full-backs completely occupied all through the game – we were getting to the edge of their box all the time. Goals are what we’re about. Although our goal tally was very good up until a few weeks ago, today was a fillip in terms of pushing us on a bit. The crowd got right behind the players today, particularly the young ones and that was good.

"In the main, our attacking play was terrific. We could have scored a lot of goals today and that’s pleasing. They were all disappointed after Wednesday. The young players hadn’t experienced a bad defeat before so it was a good thing for them."

Sir Alex will be keeping an eye on City's game on Monday against Chelsea as the gap at the top is down to two points.

"We always hope that [we put pressure on City]," he added. "But I think the important thing is to get our own game right. If we get to New Year’s Day and we’re in the frame we have a great chance in the second half of the season."

Sir Alex's selection dilemma

With the title race loose ends tied up, every fan's focus has turned to the Champions League final; Sir Alex faces some tough decisions in Rome, but he's also toying with his line-up for Sunday's visit to Hull City.

The boss plans to give the game the respect it deserves with the result of huge significance to Hull and the other three teams fighting to avoid relegation.

The visit to the KC Stadium comes just 72 hours before United square up to Barcelona in Rome, and Sir Alex will undoubtedly utilise the full resources available to him, but he will still send out a team fit to represent United, and one which he feels is capable of winning the match.

“This is the best squad I’ve ever had," the boss told MUTV. "I could have picked two teams against Arsenal last week, and I’ll be picking a team on Sunday against Hull that will reflect that strength.

"We have a fantastic squad of around 28 or 29 players now, which includes the likes of [Federico] Macheda, [Danny] Welbeck, [Rodrigo] Possebon, [Darron] Gibson, Rafael and Fabio. They are young but they’re very, very good players, and good characters, too. I think that gives us a back-up that we’ve never had before."

The Hull match certainly won't be considered a dead rubber for those selected. It might be a last chance for established players to book a place in the 18-man matchday squad in Rome, or for emerging young talents to stake a claim for next season.

Sir Alex will certainly field players such as Darren Fletcher - so unfortunately suspended for the final - and Tomasz Kuszczak, who will now deputise for Edwin van der Sar without competition from the injured Ben Foster.

Eyes on the prize

“We’ve just got to concentrate on winning the league and try to do that in our own way. Going for a point is always a dangerous game to play when that’s all you need, we must try and go for the win.”

- Sir Alex Ferguson

With just two league games remaining United can seal an 18th title and third successive Barclays Premier League crown with a draw against Arsenal on Saturday.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his players against complacency and challenged them to take all three points from the lunchtime clash at Old Trafford.

“I think it helps that we are playing Arsenal because we know from previous games you have to play them at a good level,” the boss told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

“They are a very good team and they will attack us, there’s no question about that. They won’t change the way they play and I’m expecting a good game.

“We’ve just got to concentrate on winning the league and try to do that in our own way. Going for a point is always a dangerous game to play when that’s all you need, we must try and go for the win.”

The United manager also expressed his desire for the Championship crown to be won at Old Trafford, as a reward for the supporters.

“It is strange that we’ve won it four times on the last game of the season elsewhere, but have only done it once out of the ten times at Old Trafford,” he said.

“We have great fans and it will be great for them if we can do it. I always say I don’t care where we win it but on a day like Saturday with the opportunity to do it, it would be nice.”

Red Devils peaking at right time

Sir Alex Ferguson says the mood in the United camp is sky-high ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby after victory over Arsenal on Tuesday night ensured safe passage to the Champions League final.

The United manager has seen his side recover from March's back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Fulham with five straight Premier League wins, taking the champions to within seven points of a third successive title.

“The team has come into top form at the right time,” he told his Friday morning press conference. “City have won their last four games and they’ve got some good players, but we’re going into the game with a great deal of confidence ourselves.

"A lot of our players are smelling the big games now. If you look at the last few weeks we’ve had a fantastic performance in Porto, two great performances against Arsenal, the second half against Tottenham and a really good display at Middlesbrough.

"The team has just come into top form at the right time. I’d like to say it was my preparation, but it’s not. I think the players smell the big games well. They like those situations, they’ve proved they can handle them and we’re so close now."

The Boss also confirmed that there are no new injury concerns from Tuesday's win at the Emirates.

Sir Alex Ferguson lands monthly award

Sir Alex Ferguson has been named Barclays Manager of the Month for April.

After a tough end to March in which United lost 4-1 to Liverpool and 2-0 to Fulham, the boss steered his resurgent Reds to four straight victories last month.

It started with the incredible scenes at Old Trafford against Aston Villa, with 17-year-old debutant Federico Macheda grabbing an astonishing injury-time clincher in a dramatic 3-2 win.

The Italian was again got the winner away to Sunderland, joining Paul Scholes on the scoresheet in a 2-1 success at the Stadium of Light.

Portsmouth were then dispatched 2-0 back in Manchester, although the winning margin could, and should, have been wider.

Sir Alex had to show his tactical nous as the Reds went in 2-0 down at half-time against Tottenham Hotspur in the last outing in April; sending out fearsome foursome Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov to spearhead five second-half goals.

Twelve goals in four games has kept the Reds in a commanding position in the league, now requiring a maximum of seven points from four remaining games to win a third consecutive title - the 18th in total.

Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin was handed the Player of the Month accolade.

SAF wary of Blues' threat

"Their fans would love to think they can stop us winning the league. There’s nothing wrong with that, our fans would be exactly the same. That's the nature of derbies."

- Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester City will be desperate to stop United taking a huge step towards the Premier League title this weekend.

Mark Hughes' Blues visit Old Trafford on Sunday, with United just seven points away from a third straight domestic crown. According to the United manager, City will take motivation from the chance to help out second-placed Liverpool.

"Their fans would love to think they can stop us winning the league," Sir Alex told his pre-match press conference. "It’s a natural thing that can happen. There’s nothing wrong with that, we’d be the same probably. Our fans would be exactly the same. They’re rivalries that involve everyone and I understand their desire to try and beat us on Sunday."

Having ended a 32-year wait to win at Old Trafford in last season's emotional post-Munich anniversary clash, City will be shooting for a second successive victory on enemy turf. But, with United on the brink of an English record-equalling 18th league title, Sir Alex admits his side have plenty riding on Sunday's clash.

"City will be desperate to win again," he said. "It (last season's defeat) was an emotional day for everyone at the club. It was difficult to handle, and we realised that afterwards. But that was over a year ago.

"There are only four games left for us and we’ve got to think of winning it. We’re so close now, it’s ours to win and in our form we’ve got a good chance."