Everyone's Happy At Old Trafford

Last updated : 09 October 2007 By editor

Carlos Tevez, "Arsenal are the leaders in the table but Manchester United should be favourites for the title and the Champions League," Tevez told the Daily Mirror. "I think we will show that and prove it to our opponents when we play them in the key matches this season. United have special players and Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the Premier League. He is ideal, great and easy to play alongside because he provides assists and scores goals."

Patrice Evra, "There is no doubt that Arsenal are a stronger side than they were last season, but I don't think we will know about this team until they lose. That's the important time when you look to see how a team reacts. It is how you bounce back. We know we can do it. We had a difficult start to the season but we have shown great strength and character and are winning now without conceding any goals."

John O'Shea, "It's a pretty happy camp at the moment, especially with the defensive situation with the clean sheets. Rio and Nemanja are definitely a major factor to it - you cannot ask for two better central defenders in Europe, in my opinion. I hope they will stay clear of injury because they have been a major influence on keeping the clean sheets.

"Nemanja is big goal threat as well. You know if the ball is going towards him when he makes a run there's a good chance of it being a goal. Other teams are picking up on that now, and he's becoming really tightly marked. For a defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a couple of goals.

"With the attacking quality we have, we know if we keep a clean sheet then nine times out of 10 we are going to win the game. We hope we can keep it going. Gary Neville will be back soon - and with the games we have coming up in the Champions League and the Premier League, we need his kind of experience. The top teams are gathering pace now - and Arsenal, in particular, look very tasty at the minute."

Ryan Giggs, "Pique came in at centre half and did a good job, and so did Simmo. They got two assists really, so overall it was a really good performance from them both. In the second half Anderson was really involved in a lot of the play.

"He worked hard, showed some great touches, some great passes and he's still only young and finding his feet, but he put in a really good performance."

Danny Simpson, "It was magnificent, I'm buzzing. It's a Premier League game, playing with Ronaldo on the right wing and it's a good feeling. I don't know what else to say. Hopefully there'll be a few more feelings like this to come.

"I had family and friends here, so obviously I've had a few texts from everybody. I'm looking forward to going and seeing them now, to see what they have to say.

"(For Rooney's goal) I saw Scholesy get the ball and thought that if I made the run he'd give it me. I took a touch, looked up and we've been practicing it a lot in training with Rene Meulensteen, and I just clipped it in and luckily Wayne was on the end of it.

"The gaffer has said I'm staying here as cover. Obviously we've got a few injuries and hopefully I've shown him today that, when the lads are injured, I can come in and do a job for him."