Rio Ferdinand has no intention of getting distracted by record points hauls or winning the Premier League by the biggest margin.
Both records have been mentioned in the last couple of weeks as Manchester United pulled 15 points clear of Manchester City in the title race. But as the two sides prepare to do battle in Monday's derby clash at Old Trafford, Ferdinand is intent on remaining fully focused on landing the major prize.
"It is just about winning," he said.
"If anything comes after that then great. If you win the league before the end of the season you can set other targets. For me personally we need to get the trophy first, then you can think of all the other stuff that goes on around it."
Monday represents City's first cross-town trip since they put six past United in that never-to-be-forgotten demolition derby.
Yet Ferdinand insists that mauling is not being used as motivation in the Red Devils camp.
And neither is the pain suffered on the final day of the season, when Sergio Aguero's injury-time strike snatched the trophy away after United's season had already been concluded.
"We are not any more hungry because of what happened last season," said Ferdinand.
"This is just the way we are. The mentality of this club, driven by the manager, is that you have to win and you have to be challenging for every single competition you go in for.
"That has been the case since I have been here and will never change. This club, the manager, the management team he has behind him, and the players and the fans demand that."
Source: PA
