Source: Daily_Mail
United are a warrior breed and we'll never lose our thirst for titles, insists Sir Alex Ferguson
Old heads: Gary Neville may have retired but United march on[LNB]The faces may change, but there is something about Manchester United's hunger for success that stays the same. [LNB]It is why Sir Alex Ferguson prefers to talk about the 30 points he believes will secure United another title rather than the prospect of his side going unbeaten for a club record 30 league games at Wolves today. [LNB]It is also why, in the week that Gary Neville hung up his boots, Ferguson insists the qualities that have become United's hallmark during his Old Trafford reign will not be lost on the next generation. [LNB]This might not be the most entertaining of United teams, but the ability to wear down opponents and grind out results is painfully familiar to their rivals.[LNB] 'The character of the team has been well established,' said Ferguson yesterday. 'The main body of players has been here a long time. [LNB]'They trust each other. They look around the dressing room and see good professionals who have been round the course many times. We're going to need that during the run-in. [LNB]'The consistency we've shown in the past couple of months has been very good. That's the thing that gives them the extra yard or belief in situations we've found ourselves in the last couple of weeks.[LNB] 'They know there are some games where you have to find a solution for the problems that other teams give you. They find all sorts of ways of playing against Manchester United and we accept that.[LNB] 'That's always been important to this club, and it gets recognised that we never give in. It's a great quality; I think their perseverance has got better as the team have got older. [LNB]'Wolves will be another example of that because Mick McCarthy is a fighter by nature.' [LNB]If United avoid defeat at Molineux, they will go one better than the 1999 Treble-winning side, having equalled the club's unbeaten league record of 29 games.[LNB] Experience matters: Ryan Giggs looking for another title[LNB] That they lack some of the swagger of their predecessors perhaps makes the feat even more commendable as United look to emulate Arsenal's Invincibles of 2004 by finishing the season undefeated. [LNB]For Ferguson, however, it is points and not plaudits that remain the sole objective. [LNB]United are currently five clear of Arsenal, and he has set his players a target for the final 14 games of the season. [LNB]'It's about getting enough points to get over that line,' he said.[LNB] 'I think 84 points would definitely win it. I'm almost sure of that. That's the target so we've got 30 points to find.' [LNB]United's progress allowed Ferguson to again maintain a low profile in the January transfer window. He may have broken the British transfer record on six occasions, but the 69-year-old sees no value in the current market. [LNB]'We tried to do one bit of business this time but it didn't work. Getting the value in today's market is difficult, but we have faith in our youth system. We trust in it.' [LNB]Ferguson also criticised the decision of former United defender Laurent Blanc to omit Patrice Evra from his France squad to face Brazil next week, even though he completed a five-match ban for going on strike during last summer's World Cup.[LNB] 'It's a surprise because he's been punished already,' said Ferguson. 'I thought they'd have moved on.'[LNB] Fergie keen for retired Neville to stay with United as media career beckonsUnited pair Ferguson and Berbatov pick up Barclays awards for JanuaryAll the latest Manchester United FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Patrice Evra, Mick McCarthy, Gary Neville Places: France, Brazil
