Sir Alex Ferguson has refuted any suggestion that Manchester United have underachieved during the early stages of the 2011/12 campaign.
Utd boss believes his side are in good shape at home and abroad
Sir Alex Ferguson has refuted any suggestion that Manchester United have underachieved during the early stages of the 2011/12 campaign.
The Red Devils sit five points adrift of arch-rivals Manchester City in the Premier League title race and are only two points ahead of third-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
United have also stumbled their way through the UEFA Champions League group stage and need to avoid defeat away at FC Basel on Wednesday to book their place in the last 16.
It has been suggested that pressure is starting to take its toll on Ferguson's young squad, while injuries continue to hinder their progress.
Ferguson, though, believes his side remain in good shape and is adamant that they will not buckle under the weight of expectation placed upon them.
"People say we are not doing well but we are second in the league and we are at a stage where we could be qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League," he said.
"The pressure won't affect us.
"Look at the number of big games these players play in. Every year for the last few years they have been involved in finals and semi-finals and quarter-finals and big games in the Premier League.
"We have a strong squad and that squad will see us through without question."
United travel to Switzerland in midweek knowing a point will be enough to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Comparisons are, however, being drawn with their disastrous 2005 campaign, when they were dumped out at the group stage.
Ferguson is aware of such talk, but has been quick to play it down.
"The side that played then was a very young team that suffered with a lot of injuries," he said.
"That period was disappointing. But it is six years ago. Our record since then has been outstanding."
