By Chris Burton Last updated: 12th May 2008
Gill: Backing Ferguson
Manchester United chief executive David Gill admits that manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be given money to strengthen over the summer.
The Red Devils have just wrapped up a 10th Premier League title, but realise that they must continue to improve if they are retain the edge over their rivals.
United embarked a major spending spree last summer bringing in Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez, and will be keen to bring in quality reinforcements once again should the right players become available.
Chief executive Gill has promised that the board will back their manager in the transfer market and fully expects Ferguson to get the chequebook out.
"Like any club you assess what's gone well, what hasn't gone so well and where you feel you can improve," Gill told MUTV.
"We will certainly be in a position where, if we can improve it, we will.
"Alex will never allow us to rest on our laurels.
"It is the best league in the world without doubt so if we want to continue to be at the top we have to make sure we look at the squad and improve it.
"The team won the title last year so how do you improve on that?
"But that is what we try to do. We need to make sure we don't stand still and our ability to identify those players who will make that difference has been very well sorted out the last two or three years."
With last summer's signings having adapted quickly to life at Old Trafford, Gill admits that their progression has come as a huge bonus to the club.
"When you make big money signings like we did last year, it is fantastic when you see them come in and do so well," he said.
"That shows what this club is about. All these big stars are integrated very quickly, made to feel very welcome and therefore they produce the goods on the pitch."
Ferguson has built up a wealth of experience during his 22 years at Old Trafford, and Gill feels that the continuity provided by the manager has been the catalyst for the club's success.
With another Premier League crown already safely in the bag, and a UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea to come on 21st May, the Red Devils chief executive hopes that the Old Trafford trophy cabinet will continue to swell in the years to come.
"Sir Alex has been here over 21 years now," reflected Gill.
"He has built many teams in that time and we have had that stability throughout the club as a whole.
"We are here to win trophies, so to get the Premiership is brilliant. It can set us up for the Champions League final in 10 days' time.
"The eyes of the world will be on us and I am sure Alex and the team will be highly motivated and we can look forward very positively."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Burnley | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Everton | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Fulham | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Hull City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Liverpool | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Wigan Athletic | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
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