Saha taking nothing for granted

Louis Saha is determined Manchester United will not be lured into the trap of believing their season is certain to end in glory.

The Red Devils have forged four points clear of Chelsea in the Barclays Premiership over the festive period and, with Jose Mourinho's men struggling to cope with a growing injury list and the worrying absence of John Terry, the feeling is growing outside Old Trafford that United will eventually be crowned champions once more.

Yet, as United boss Alex Ferguson knows only too well, it is dangerous to make any assumptions with 18 games still to play, which is why Saha is so convinced his team-mates will remain fully focussed on the immediate challenges ahead, starting with Saturday's home encounter with Reading.

"It has been a very good Christmas," he told MUTV. "We have scored six goals in two games and pulled two more points in front of Chelsea and confidence is very high.

"The target is easy to see now, but we have to make sure we reach it. We don't have enough points to say the job is done yet."

Although, on paper, United would appear to have a tougher run-in, on present form their appear capable of beating anyone and have shown an immense strength of character to recover from the shattering Sunday earlier this month when Chelsea came from behind to beat Everton with two late goals immediately before the Red Devils crumbled at West Ham.

The second of the successive wins since the Upton Park debacle came despite Ferguson drafting in five fresh faces, with more changes inevitable against Reading as Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic are both suspended.

Although Steve Coppell's men proved at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday what a difficult side they are to beat, it should not have come as any surprise to United given they were also held by the Royals earlier in the campaign.

And, with a visit to Newcastle to come on New Year's Day, Saha accepts United must maintain their present form if they are to consolidate their current position.

"This is a long season and there are a lot of tough games coming up," said Saha. "It is good to be up front but we are aware it is going to be difficult to stay there."

Saha is not taking too much notice of Chelsea's present dip in form either, accepting the situation could soon change.

Besides, the French World Cup star completely accepts Mourinho's assertion that, while they are not at their best, the double champions are still within touching distance.

"It is nice to know Chelsea are not playing well and are finding it hard to get results but they are still up there challenging," he said. "The best thing for us to do is ignore them and concentrate on our own game.

"We are playing well, scoring goals and defending well. Some of the football we have produced has been unbelievable. But we have to stay focussed and carry on the way we have been, and make sure we keep picking up the points."