"In terms of hostility our boys have faced far more hostile atmospheres," he said. "When you go to Anfield, Liverpool versus Manchester United, and they play that song [You'll Never Walk Alone] the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and it really gets you motivated. And as for Leeds United at Elland Road ... deary me!"
But Ferguson's main concern is the 11-point gap with Chelsea:
"They will be praying it's a draw," he said. "They look as if they have an unassailable lead but you keep thinking about football being the game that can suddenly change. There have been disasters time and time again. I had it as a player at Rangers when we went unbeaten to the last day of the season, only to lose the final game 3-2 to Aberdeen and then concede the title to Celtic. Can you imagine how the Rangers fans felt that day?"
"Football is a game which can defy all your optimism and we will keep on chasing Chelsea until we can't catch them. You have to hope that the disaster of all disasters happens and they collapse. I'm not managing the right club if I don't think like that."