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BOSS: THEY'RE ALL THREATS Although the home clash with Chelsea on Sunday is a huge game, Sir Alex believes all the top clubs will drop points in difficult away fixtures this term. Highlighting the progess made by Stoke, who drew with the Blues on the opening weekend, the manager feels it's wrong that all the talk in the media is already about a two-horse race between United and City for the title because difficult challenges are posed every week.
"I think, at the moment, the Manchester teams are enjoying the publicity of the predictions that the two of us will be involved in winning the league," said the boss. "In the background, lurks Chelsea and they don't need the publicity. It's all going to Manchester and they'll be enjoying that at the moment. I don't think you can say Chelsea are the biggest threat. I think they're all threats and hopefully we're a threat to them. "Games against the big four will always be important. But middle-division teams are taking points off the top teams now. Stoke beat Liverpool and drew with Chelsea. They're making a big impact and now Stoke are playing European football. They travelled to Kiev and got a result, got through their last round very well. There's always room for teams to progress in this league and I see Stoke becoming quite an important side. That's a reminder of how tough it is for all of us - when we go to places like Stoke, Sunderland and Newcastle then we can drop points." More: Team news for Sunday | Chelsea will challenge | Giggs is Mata's hero |
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EVANS STRIVES FOR CONSISTENCY Jonny Evans is enjoying starting regularly for the Reds as he regains the consistency that all top centre-backs require. The Northern Ireland international has had some battles with Chelsea in the past and has stood up to the physical threat of the likes of Didier Drogba. Clearly, the defender's form going into the match means it's difficult for the manager to leave him out. "I feel a lot better," stressed Evans to ManUtd.com. "I feel more focused and that's something I need to be all the time, 100 percent focused, to get the best out of me. I think last season it was more just a lack of consistency. At times, I thought I did well and other times I didn't do as well as I'd like. So my consistency is just needed back in my game. It was one of the strongest points I had in the three seasons before. There's things I've worked on and I just wanted to get that back." The big games are starting to come thick and fast now the international break is over and the centre-back realises Chelsea will be stern opponents on Sunday. "It's quite crazy that people are writing Chelsea off. Last season, Chelsea were winning 4-0 or 5-0 every game at the start of the season, kind of like we are doing ourselves, but we still went on to win it so we can't discount them at all." More: Evans pleased with draw | Fletcher to battle | Smalling's Benfica boost |
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GIGGS: IT'S ABOUT APPETITE Ryan Giggs has warned the youngsters coming through the ranks at Old Trafford that talent alone is insufficient to make the grade at United. The veteran midfielder feels a number of the club's teenagers are good enough to pull on the famous red shirt but the important step is to have the fight and determination to succeed at the highest level. "I'm not going to single any of the youngsters out but there are talents and this is an important part of their career," he told MUTV. "I look at the likes of the lads who have come through from my age group and, later, John O'Shea and Wes Brown. When they got the chance, they took it. What they've got to do at this age now - 17, 18 and 19 - if they get a chance to train with the first-team, they have got to make an impact. If they come on as a sub, they must make an impact and make the manager not leave you out for the next game. "It's tough in the first-team as there's a lot of quality but it's even tougher to stay there. The majority coming through have got the quality, it's just have they got that desire and appetite to take it up a step more?" More: Podcast - Chelsea preview | Lindegaard thanks boss | Giggs still feels fresh |
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