Alex Ferguson wrote the book on winning the Premiership, so it was appropriate he chose yesterday's launch of a giant history of Manchester United to reaffirm his determination to add another chapter.
The 37kg, 850-page, £3,000 Manchester United Opus history of the club would dwarf the average coffee table, and a large chunk of it chronicles Ferguson's eight league titles. It is a story familiar to anyone conversant with the Premiership era and the manager remains convinced that his 20th season will end with a familiar refrain: Manchester United, league champions.
An eight-point margin with Christmas approaching is an unfamiliar buffer for a manager accustomed to seeing his side come up on the rails, but Ferguson is certain his team will stay the course. They will start by ignoring Jose Mourinho's attempt at distraction following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, when he said United "would be in trouble" if they thought the league was won.
"We will only be in trouble if we listen to Jose too much," said Ferguson, whose motivation will be sharpened by attempting to prevent Mourinho matching his feat of winning three consecutive Premiership titles. So determined is Ferguson to play down the advantage accrued by an unbeaten league run stretching back 12 matches he sees Chelsea taking the three points from tomorrow night's game in hand against Newcastle as a given.
"Five points clear at this stage is very unusual for us, we're usually lagging behind, but I won't be letting the players fall into the trap of thinking it's won because all we have done is give ourselves a foundation. There are many hurdles to be navigated in the run-in.
"To win the league, you have to have great consistency, particularly around March and April. Historically, we have done okay at that time of the year. All championship races are difficult, but the real test comes on the run-in when any mistake can cost you everything. That will be the test for us. I am sure it will be ourselves and Chelsea but I am sure we will last the distance."
The sight of Chelsea failing to secure the win over Arsenal their late pressure merited brought Ferguson early seasonal cheer, and he was still glowing yesterday, dispensing praise for Mourinho's purchasing strategy, Arsene Wenger's youth policy and speaking whimsically of the "dream" of seeing Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in tandem. There was even a joke when his new mobile chirped unexpectedly mid-sentence: "It's Jose, he's panicking already."
Ferguson's pride in the emergence of the current United vintage, an exciting blend of youth and experience, is evident, but it will mean nothing unless they add silverware to promise.
"You cannot guarantee success in the future but I feel far better today looking at my team than two or three years ago when we were not winning anything," he said. "The nuts and bolts of the situation is this: at our club you have to win. Being a good second does not come into it.
"At Manchester United, if you are not winning, you get a lot of criticism. Whether it's deserved or not, it is there. Nobody likes it but an element of it drives you on and increases your determination not to get criticised again. The only way to keep your head above water is by winning. I think this side is showing signs of being a really good team but they have to win the league, they have to win the European Cup, they have to win the FA Cup. If they don't it means nothing," Ferguson said.
Ferguson added the patience necessary when bringing young players on was justified by their promise and unpredictability. "Rooney and Ronaldo don't buy you consistency but you have to take a hit sometimes, because they bring you hope, they bring you a dream you hope you might see realised. We've also got a few old codgers in [ Paul] Scholes and [ Ryan] Giggs, and that experience will be important when the real tests come."
Guardian Service
