QUOTES

Fergie

"It's a great confidence boost - no question about that. We played very well and created some good openings. It was a matter of being patient and when we got back into the game we played some fantastic football.

"We learned from it (Madrid). A lot of our players are young so it was good to get the experience from Madrid and come here knowing it was such an important game - and produce.

"Just one more goal and we would have been level with Arsenal.

"We would have accepted this score before the game!

"We're set up nicely now and have got to the position I hoped we would get to some months ago.

"It's a great confidence boost for Wednesday night. It's the biggest game of the season now. We've got ourselves into the position we wanted to be, but to predict winning titles is a bit foolish."

"Everyone thought Arsenal had won the title, but they are changing their minds now. It will be closer than anyone thought, and in the Arsenal players' minds all the time will be the thought that they shouldn't have said those over-confident things early in the season."

'I have always said that as long as we went into the Arsenal fixture level, or a point or so behind, I would be happy because then it's in your own hands. Three points in front is a definite bonus.

'If we were to win the title, after the rocky start we made and having seven players out for operations, it would be one of our greatest ever achievements.' But Ferguson is still not predicting anything. United have their spirit back: from here on in it is up to the players.

"We're very pleased to have won the way we did. We always get a bit of criticism when we get beaten (Madrid) but I think that was the best response we could have had. "St James' Park is always a difficult ground to come to and at 1-0 down I think we would have been happy to take the point but we scored four goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

"We knew Arsenal's goal difference was five ahead before the game. Seven or eight wasn't beyond us today but unfortunately it didn't happen."

"On Tuesday I saw Manchester United outsmarted in Madrid. Today I've seen Manchester United outplay and outmanoeuvre us. It was just a mental abberation on our part. I don't know why. I don't know if United will win the title. If I knew that, I'd put £1m on them at 7-4 or whatever it is. All I know is Arsenal and Manchester United are ahead of everyone else. They're two well-matched teams. It'll be a marvellous game on Wednesday night."

"I thought before the match that we would give Manchester United their most difficult away game. As it turns out, we've actually given them their easiest match.

"It was a mental aberration as far as I'm concerned. It was always going to be a test and a challenge for us, but through that mental situation, we looked physically weak.

"We couldn't get anywhere near them. They were too good for us, too clever for us, but our defence - and not only our defence - were poor in track, mark and tackle, and I learnt that as a schoolboy."

Despite many internet searches only quotes from before the match can be found

On the match yesterday:

"The most important thing tomorrow is that we get back to winning ways"

"Now we've got a massive game to get back into our winning ways. Nobody knows just where we're going to finish in the Premiership table.

"We've just got to keep on playing and if we beat Manchester United, then things could be wide open again."

And this, regarding their last match with Everton:

"It was a coward's challenge by Gravesen because Olivier went to win the ball and did win it, and Gravesen went in to hurt him and he hurt him badly," said Shearer.

"It is a challenge that could finish a player's career. It should have been a straight red and everyone could see it."

Interesting that once Shearer had been booked yesterday for his 3rd bad foul that United took command.