QUOTES FROM THE MANAGERS

Last updated : 27 December 2005 By Ed

Fergie:

"It was a convincing performance, even if we took a bit of time to get going.

"We just have to keep going. The important thing is to win and if we keep going then you never know.

"I think confidence is a big factor with the team because we are starting to play well.

"The result against Benfica was a killer but we have turned it around.

"We must keep winning so if Chelsea slip up we are the nearest team.

"Our players do not like losing and what happened in Lisbon was not something they expected.

"We are on a good run now and, while it is frustrating we are not getting a break in terms of Chelsea's results, all we can do is keep winning for our own pride and our own supporters.

"Paul Scholes was suffering with a bit of a cold and he was going to come off at some point anyway. As soon as the third goal went in it gave us an opportunity to take off Ruud and keep him fresh for Wednesday. Wes Brown had to come off with a slight groin strain at half-time. Other than that everyone was okay.


"I think West Brom were unfortunate to lose Robinson with concussion. It was an accident, Wayne Rooney appeared to shove him a bit and he went into one of his own colleagues. At that point I thought they were doing pretty well and it changed things and we started opening them up a bit.

"We were always waiting for that first goal from Paul Scholes and now he's got three I think he'll go into double figures again this season.

"I think defending is important in the league and our defending has been good in the last few games. We've hopefully come out of that bad spell. The result in Benfica was a killer for us, but we've turned it around for ourselves. What happened in Benfica was something I didn't expect, but they've come round and we're playing very well now.

"Young Darren Fletcher, now he's settled back - when he played so many games, I think it got to him as he's still growing. I thought he was excellent today and the younger players are emerging from that bad spell very well."

Robbo:

"It was disappointing to switch off for the first and conceding just before half-time was a big blow.

"But we have got games against Tottenham and Aston Villa coming up and our home form has been pretty good."

"I could sense Wayne was getting a bit frustrated. (Before Robinson was carried off)

"I had watched all the tapes on United and Rooney has been running the show. I wanted to put him out of the game and Paul was getting a lot of joy. Wayne pushed him in the back and it was unfortunate his head went into Thomas' thigh. He was concussed, but he has come round quite well in the dressing room. We will not make any decision about him until it settles down."