1996 ALL OVER AGAIN?

Fergie:

"We started the Newcastle comeback a bit earlier but I guess it’s along similar lines.

"When you've got a big lead and it starts to be whittled away, you've got worries."

"We know from past experience that it is not easy being front. This championship is not only going to be the usual test of skill. It will also be an examination of nerve, concentration and ambition.

"Winning is what matters now. Championships are not won through overconfidence and complacency. This season it is going to be a test of nerve, concentration and ambition.

"If we do manage to come out on top then it will be an incredible feat and one that I would rate among our best achievements.

"There was a lot of pressure on us but we have responded with a performance of composure and patience and got the result we were looking for."

"We expected Ruud to improve and I believe he has," Ferguson said. "He is a scorer of both great and simple goals and now he is doing things he didn’t last year.

"It was a marvellous goal, requiring courage, determination and drive. His speed and execution were marvellous and it was up there with some of the very best we have ever seen here. It will always be remembered."

On his 2nd goal: "I got the ball maybe just in their half and turned and dribbled and dribbled on and on.

"I saw space on the left. The goalkeeper came out, and I put it in."

Asked if it was his best goal for United, he added: "I think so - but not the best in my career."

Responding to accusations of an elbow when he wrestles the ball off Sylvain Legwinski for his 2nd: "Elbow? I don't know; maybe it happened - but it didn't happen on purpose.

"You can't beat Saturdays like this with the atmosphere, the weather, the pitch.

"It was tremendous to play, and the result and the goals have made it a hell of a day."

"I want to do it all again. People say we are not as hungry as we were, but I want to win everything again and again.

"It doesn't matter whether we have done the treble or the double in the past or what we have achieved, I just want to carry on doing it, winning games and scoring goals and winning trophies."

The most important thing is to concentrate on your own performances and not worry about other teams' results which you have no control over.

"But in my experience it's how you handle indifferent results and disappointments, and how teams chasing you react to them.

"In that respect, we've been there before and if Arsenal slip up we will take advantage.

"It's always better to lead from the front rather than chasing the lead. And confidence, determination and expectation are growing. We believe we can go on and win our remaining games, which is all we can do.

"We have been in pressure situations before and you know that, when you're playing well and rivals begin to slip up, the advantage shifts.

"There is a great deal of pressure on the team to win something this season - a lack of success at United is not acceptable.

"But you live with it because the pressure is always there. We know if we fail to bring success that the manager will go out and change things during the summer.

"If you're not hungry enough the manager will bring in players who are, so you have to deal with it and accept it."

Referring to RVN‘s wonder goal: "Two of our players stopped. Sylvain sustained a cut and bruising, so we thought it should have been a free-kick, although you can't do anything but praise the goal."

And the title destination: "I am caught in the middle. I am French like Arsene Wenger so I would like Arsenal to win it but I am also a huge admirer of Alex Ferguson so I would be equally pleased for Manchester United to win it.

"Probably it will come down to the matches they both have to play in the Champions League and the FA Cup and how much that affects them in the league."

‘Cheer Up’ on his team’s abject performance in London:

"I am very disappointed and I have told the players that in no uncertain terms. It is something like £40 to come down here and I have told them that they did not give the fans value for money.

"I don't like to slag my players off but it looked like our season came to an end here today and I find that the biggest insult to me and my staff."

Keegan said that despite the embarrassing scoreline, he thought veteran Danish stopper Peter Schmeichel had done well: "I thought he kept a very good goal and pulled off some good saves and was dominant with crosses. He deserved better protection from those in front of him.

"It was a hot day and too many players didn't want to run around."