Turning to next mind game

Alex Ferguson has no doubts his Manchester United stars are focused enough to win the FA Cup and complete the next leg of the Treble.

Ferguson, who was yesterday named Carling Manager of the Year - his fourth such award - admits some players may be thinking Saturday's Wembley date against Newcastle United will be the easiest of their three targets.

United have just seen off Arsenal's stiff challenge to claim their fifth Premiership title in seven years, while the formidable Bayern Munich stand between them and European Champions' Cup glory in Barcelona.

By comparison beating Ruud Gullit's erratic Newcastle looks straight forward.

Ferguson is ready to dispel any such notions and he is confident his players will not let up in their quest to rewrite the history books and become the greatest club side in English football.

"Winning the title does take the pressure off in a sense because we're going into the European Cup as champions and we're in the Charity Shield as champions," he said.

"The FA Cup is a different proposition because many people - even maybe the players at this moment in time, although not by the time I get to them - will think that's the lesser of the targets.

"A lot of them will start thinking about Barcelona, but when I pick my team on Friday they will soon waken up.

"We must win the League and the FA Cup or they will have let themselves down. You must remember in an FA Cup final anything can happen and we all know that.

"Everyone knows that Wembley is a different kind of pitch, but most of them have been there and they know what it's all about.

"But these players are definitely focused and we've only lost four games this season. That tells you that it is hard to beat my team."

United could hardly have had a tougher route to Wembley having overcome Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal on their way to the Twin Towers.

Ferguson knows luck can play a big part in Cup finals, but he is determined not to let all that hard work go to waste.

"I remember in the League Cup before we won the title we got through to the final," he said.

"We beat Liverpool at home 3-1 and then Arsenal 6-2, Southampton in the quarter-finals and Leeds United over two legs in the semi-finals only to lose to Sheffield Wednesday of the Second Division in the final. Somehow I don't think we will be as generous as that this time."

United celebrated their 12th championship at a hotel on the outskirts of Manchester last night and yesterday the players enjoyed a day off - a rare luxury in recent weeks.

Preparations begin for the cup final today and Ferguson already knows three of his team.

Paul Scholes and Roy Keane will play in central midfield because they are suspended for the Champions' League final, while Phil Neville will come in for the suspended Denis Irwin.

Jaap Stam missed the 2-1 win over Tottenham, which clinched the title, because of his Achilles problem and must be doubtful for Saturday.

"Newcastle know my centre midfield for next Saturday and Phil Neville will be left back," said Ferguson.

"I have other thoughts in my mind flying about like a forward line of five, but that will disappear by tomorrow. But we are allowed to dream now and again."

Ferguson is just two games away from turning the dreams of every United fan into reality.

Meanwhile, Shay Given may have to be content with a place on the Newcastle bench in Saturday's cup final. Steve Harper (24) has forced his way into the reckoning by playing in four of his side's last five Premiership games. Harper is a big favourite with the St James's Park fans who chanted his name during Newcastle's Premiership finale against Blackburn last Sunday.