Alex Ferguson has backed up Roy Keane's view that Manchester United's stars will be playing for their futures when they take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Keane recently voiced his concerns that "heads will roll" if United cannot overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they travel to Germany. And Ferguson has also dropped a huge hint that despite having clinched a seventh Premiership title in nine years, he is ready to ring the changes at Old Trafford if his side fails to make the last four of the competition for the second year running.
Ferguson said: "Wednesday will bring back just whether we are capable of winning against the best teams in Europe. How we do will make our mind up on quite a few things."
He added: "They (Bayern) have never lost a game in Munich after taking a first-leg lead and they have only lost three games in Munich in all their European games. That's not a bad record.
"And the German mentality means you know you are going to face a determined set of players, there's no question of that.
"They have won their League for the last two seasons and they are going for a third title this year, so we know we will be facing a formidable bunch of players.
"But I believe we have the better ability. In fact, there are many things that I'm positive about."
Meanwhile, United chairman Martin Edwards has set a new task for Ferguson - to help find his replacement. Ferguson who will retire from management at the end of next season, has led United to 14 pieces of silverware in 15 seasons, including the treble of Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup in 1999.
"We have to get it right and make sure when Alex goes the person that takes over can do the job. The players are used to winning things but we have to make sure that they are well managed," said Edwards.
Current number two at Old Trafford, Steve McClaren is one of the front-runners to succeed the former Aberdeen boss and Martin O'Neill, who has enjoyed a wonderful first season at Celtic has also been touted.
"There are a number of factors to take into consideration," Edwards added. "You have to look at what you have got now - Alex has a very good number two.
"We also have to look at other people - Alex will be involved in that process as well - we have got to make sure that whoever takes over can do the job.
"Steve (McClaren) is certainly one of the candidates and a strong candidate along with whoever else we feel can do that job. He has done an excellent job as number two and Alex will have a view on that as well.
"We will look in Britain at who is doing well, on the continent at who is doing well and you have to look within." Edwards admits that a decline is inevitable for United at some stage in the future.
"You always worry because nobody has dominated football forever. All great clubs have had their moments and then declines and I am sure our decline will come one day."
