Ferguson calls for ´never-say-die´ attitude

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for his side’s never-say-die attitude to claim their 20th league title.

The Red Devils are five points ahead of rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but they can extend that lead to eight points if they beat QPR on Sunday, with Roberto Mancini’s men facing Arsenal later in the day.

United were saved by two goals in the final 10 minutes from Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young in their last league outing against Blackburn to claim all three points.

And Ferguson insisted that it is no coincidence that United often find the net late on.

“Over the years we have had these moments when we have scored late goals,” he told the club’s website.

“Look back to 1993 and Sheffield Wednesday, two goals in the last nine minutes of injury-time. It is part of our history. We don’t give in.

“We are capable of scoring late goals. It is not an accident. There is a thread relating to the history of the club that way for many years now.

“This season you could point to the recovery at Chelsea, or you could point to Norwich or Monday night. With nine minutes to go it was still 0-0, but the players didn’t give in.

“They kept their intensity and concentration really well. That was the plus point on Monday. The intensity of our game was brilliant and our concentration was great.”

With just seven games left for both Manchester clubs, the title is United’s to lose and the 70-year-old is looking minimal mistakes during the run-in.

“You have to grind results out and keep going and hope the team in front of you make mistakes or lose points,” he said.

“You drop points in this league. It’s a fact. We all drop points. No-one goes through a season without dropping points.

“It is about when you drop them and, on the run-in, your aim is not to drop as many as your immediate opponents, which we haven’t done.

“We are in a good spell and are getting players back so there is some freshness in the team at the moment. Hopefully we can keep it going.”