Sir Alex sets 2008 blueprint

United have kicked off 2008 with two victories in two competitions, which fits in with Sir Alex Ferguson’s blueprint for the year as he looks to challenge on all fronts.

The Reds are currently two points behind league leaders Arsenal, face an FA Cup fourth round tie with either Tottenham or Reading and have a Champions League last 16 clash with Lyon looming in February.

After narrowly missing out on FA Cup glory last season and just running out of steam in the Champions League semi final against AC Milan, Sir Alex thinks the current squad has the quality in depth and experience to go a step further.

“I am looking for success in Europe as well as at home,” he says. “We have the players and the back-up to do it. We are a more mature team this season in terms of European football and we have played some successful and entertaining stuff.

“We’ve lost a couple of games in the league but our consistency overall has been very good. We are with the leaders in the league and we are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League and ready for the exciting games ahead.”

Sir Alex's optimism is fuelled by the cohesion of United's squad, especially with Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson adapting quickly to life at Old Trafford. He said: "The main reason fpr my optimism is the way we have knitted together as a team, with the new players settling to make the kind of impact we were not entitled to expect so soon."