Reds love the pressure

John O'Shea insists United are revelling in yet another Premier League title chase with perennial rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

Sir Alex Ferguson's reigning champions head the chasing pack by five points with just seven games remaining, and O'Shea says experience allows the Reds to savour the ongoing battle.

"Experience really helps," he told Manchester United Radio. "Even the coaching staff, the experience they have in leading or chasing points. This is the time of the season we really enjoy.

"This is when the pressure comes, when medals are decided and when the players stand up and be counted. Those teams (Chelsea and Arsenal) will know that any slip-up is going to be huge at this stage."

A spate of injuries hampered United's Treble ambitions last term and, with the Premier League and Champions League on the Reds' radar, O'Shea admits going into April with an almost empty treatment room is a welcome change this season.

"You need a bit of luck along the way as well, with injuries, and we’ve had that," he said. "The manager has some really difficult choices when it comes to picking the team.

"That was a scenario we didn’t have towards the end of last season and it probably cost us in the Champions League. Fingers crossed we can make up for that this season.

"You look at all the squads in the top leagues in Europe and there are almost 20 internationals in these squads. That’s what’s needed for success these days."