Sun 8th Nov - Stamford Bridge
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 14th November 2008
Ferguson: Total belief in his team
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that his side are performing better than last season, despite trailing leaders Chelsea by eight points.
United suffered their second defeat of the season against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and sit fourth, although they have the benefit of a game in hand.
Despite their recent slip-up Ferguson remains confident that his side will be challenging at the end of the season
The United boss believes the only reason why his side aren't higher up the table at present is purely because they haven't been taking their chances in front of goal.
He said: "I actually believe the performance level is better than it was last season.
"We have just got to start finding that little extra in terms of our finishing. Life has always been the same here. If you lose a game you have to recover immediately.
"Maybe we need to more ruthless or show more composure at times but there is no doubt, making the chances we are, it will turn for us."
Even an attack boasting the quality of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov can misfire and all have been guilty of missing chances at some stage this season.
It's not only in the striking department where the Red Devils have been struggling. United have conceded five goals in their last two league games but Ferguson is confident his team will turn it around.
He said: "You just have to accept there are some little periods in every season where you just can't put the ball in.
"We have said time and time again, someone will suffer. We just have to concentrate and keep the belief that if we play our football and continue making chances, it will change for us."
United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford on Saturday and Ferguson insists his side are prepared for the game and in particular Rory Delap's long throws.
He added: "It is not so much the throws themselves, it is the way Delap propels them. They are really flat, which makes them very difficult to defend."
The United boss will not be criticising the way the visitors play and he insists that Stoke are not a dirty team.
He added: "Stoke are an aggressive competitive team. Tony Pulis' sides have always been like that. It is true teams mirror their manager and Tony is very competitive. But they are not a dirty team.
"Some teams have that label but Stoke are not like that. I watched the highlights of their game against Arsenal. There were one or two tasty tackles but nothing over the top."

Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - FanZone Highlights
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
Manchester Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow
Champions League round-up - Nov 3rd
Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow- Owen
Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow - Ferguson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Besiktas |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 8th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Wolfsburg vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Wolverhampton |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Man Utd |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Hull vs Man Utd |
| Wednesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Birmingham vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Burnley |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Hull |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 3rd November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 3 CSKA Moscow | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Barnsley 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Bolton | |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Wolfsburg | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 3 Man City | |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Besiktas 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 0 - 5 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| FA Community Shield | |
| Chelsea 2 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Valencia | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 12 | 30 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
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