In The Mirror:
'You have to say the only thing to worry about, with the ability we have here, is desire,' said Ferguson. 'Are the players hungry enough? Do they have that desire? I'm confident we will see that question positively answered next season.'
The Old Trafford boss added: 'The disappointment of winning nothing will have a positive effect. This has been the first time in 10 years we have finished outside the top two.
'Maybe it'll be the kick up the backside we needed because I'm certainly not accepting it. We're going to have to do something about it,' he told the Daily Mirror.
And on Blanc:
"I was watching the video of our Arsenal game in the second last match of the season and he was up and down that pitch. It was incredible.
"Laurent only had two rests from November against Derby and Ipswich and he had 'flu in another. I thought there would have been more opportunities to say to him 'do you want a break?' However, he wants to play all the time.
"And it will be the same again this season, no doubt. That is the admirable part about it.
"Laurent has been phenomenal. The respect he's got in the dressing room is immense.
"His reading of the game and his composure and control of situations when you are under the cosh and the way he brings the ball into midfield is marvellous.
"He brings a calm to it. I am just sorry I didn't sign him eight years ago when I first had the chance.
"He didn't take any persuading to stay on. It was one of those situations where he said he was going to retire and he changed his mind. He's changed his mind because he's enjoyed it."
And while we're talking defensive:
DI puts his twopennyworth in:
They need a player or two to improve the team and these are the types of players you need, the likes of Roberto Carlos and they have been heavily linked with Rio Ferdinand.