"We are Already Halfway '

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is confident the squad operations are getting closer to the Premier League champion this season.

On Saturday, Ferguson's team continued to demonstrate consistent action when a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.

The victory thus saw United remain at the top by collecting 49 points, seven points leave their closest rivals, Manchester City.

However, the match yesterday, shy Dutch striker Robin van Persie more attention Ferguson.

After United has overtaken its results own goal West Bromich player, Gareth McAuley as early as the ninth minute, the appearance of van Persie who came on as a substitute in the second half turned out to be disappointing Ferguson.

This is because van Persie managed to detonate his second goal for United in the late innings match.

For the record, it is the goal of the 14th van Persie in the league since he played for United earlier this season.

Ferguson believes his guidance squad now are 'half-way' to reclaim the championship trophy from City this season.

"The inclusion of van Persie has changed the pattern of our game. Once I took him and Paul Scholes in, they have done well to change our style of play.

"The goal van Persie scored very impressive, but he himself is an amazing player. He went into the field and change the pattern of our game.

"Every time he got the ball, he managed to control well and force opponents last line of defense in the penalty box. He managed to perform his duties properly.

"Currently, we are in a good position. We are already halfway to the league champion. We will face Wigan Athletic in the next match on Tuesday (early Wednesday morning).

"The match is very important and we want to win it," Ferguson said just the match yesterday.

Ferguson also praised the United defense that has demonstrated consistent action when not conceded a total of four games in a row so far.

United Have Quality Champion

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United have shown their determination to regain the Premier League trophy this season.

Scottish birth operators expressed optimism after the team The Red Devils beat Newcastle United 4-3 at Old Trafford earlier this morning.

Ferguson's team victory net proceeds Mexico striker Javier Hernandez in the final minutes of the game.

Success is put United comfortably in the league stage after collecting 46 points, seven points ahead of nearest rival and defending champion Manchester City lost 0-1 to Sunderland.

Ferguson said that, based on the character shown the players, they have the quality to win the Premier League title.

"The fact that we do is through a performance," said Ferguson.

"This is a presentation of a championship team.

"I feel that this is the last game this season, but it describes the courage of our team. We never give up.

"We had a lot of bad decisions in the first half. It undermines the spirit of the team but they did not give up and that is the quality that we have.

"Three times behind, three times we got up to the equalizer before scoring the winner.

"It is a significant decision. It puts us in a good position before against Wigan Athletic on 1 January next year." - Agencies

Swans Resist United Onslaught

Goals from Patrice Evra on 16 minutes to give ray victory to Manchester United but hopes were extinguished by Michu equalizer at minute 29. 

Results Swansea managed to tie Manchester United with a 1-1 draw at home, at the Liberty Stadium to some extent inhibited the least chessboard Alex Ferguson distanced itself from its closest competitor, Manchester City. 

It is also a special gift for Swansea coach, Michael Laudrup.

However this is a fair result for both teams displaying patterns and fast-paced game with a high tempo in search of a goal. Although a draw, Manchester United still possessed four points in the league table over Manchester City.

Match will be continued later on Boxing Day where Manchester United will be receiving a visit from their rivals, Newcastle United at Old Trafford, while its closest competitor Manchester City travel to the Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland. Tonight's game considering the adverse Manchester United because it can not separate points with Manchester City but with a draw to give a little edge to them than suffer defeat the fourth time.

Rooney: Derby Win Will add to City Woe

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is hoping a win in Sunday's derby will heap more pressure on Roberto Mancini and his City side. Rooney and his United team-mates sit three points above their City rivals on the Premier League table ahead of the clash at Etihad Stadium.

Mancini's men crashed out of the Champions League midweek following a 1-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, and Rooney believes that result be used to United's advantage.

"City are out of the Champions League and are having a bit of a tough time - I think everyone can see that behind the scenes. If we win, we can put more pressure on them. If we get three points there, it will be massive for us.

Rooney also pinpointed United's wide players as an area which could help Sir Alex Ferguson's side make a decisive move in the Premier League tittle race.

"I think our strength is getting winger on the pitch, getting the ball out wide, attacking and getting crosses into the box," he said. "That's obviously the way Manchester United have played for years, so I think that's one of our strengths.

Derby game will play live from Etihad Stadium at 21.30 Hong Kong time.

Ferguson Set to Give Hernandez a Start

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Javier Hernandez has picked himself in the starting line-up after a stunning display in United's 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Hernandez has had an impact from the United bench on a number of occasions this season, in both the Champions League and Premier League, but has moved quickly to shake the 'super-sub' tag. The 24-year-old scored a brace to recover his side's two-goal deficit at Villa Park, in similar fashion to the Champions League win over Braga last month, and after pushing for a starting spot all season, Hernandez is set to be rewarded in next week's clash with Norwich.

"He's fresh this season. He had a good break over the summer and the way he was when he first came to us is what we're seeing today," Ferguson said. "That is his natural thing. He's fantastic in the penalty box with his movement, quickness and being in space."It's got him three goals in this game. When you score a hat-trick, you pick yourself. I think he'll be playing next week. Hernandez replaced Ashley Young at half-time and found the net just 13 minutes later before forcing an own goal out of Ron Vlaar and scoring the match winner three minutes from time. But he remained coy about his own achievements, insisting the win was more important than scoring goals for him.

"It's not important who scored the goals," Hernandez said. "What's important is that Manchester United is top of the league."We came back from two down and that's great. It was not in my mind that I was going to change the game. I just wanted to do my best and do what the gaffer told me. He said just to do what I do in training - to run in behind and move the defenders. "United have often had to come from behind this season after making slow starts, but Ferguson believes that resilience to pursue a result is crucial for top teams.

"We put pressure on ourselves but we got through it," Ferguson said. "I think that it's a little lesson that we really need to be better defensively. I admire the players and the tenacity of the performances. When they are needed, they do it. Our attacking play is terrific at times." It was an absolutely magnificent result for us and a magnificent game, I must say. Aston Villa were fantastic and worked their socks off. But you have to feel sorry for them after the effort they put in. But we never give in and hit the bar twice. Once we conceded the second goal, we came alive."

Ferguson: United not Reliant on RVP

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United do not rely too heavily on in-form recruit Robin van Persie.

Van Persie joined United from Arsenal in the summer and has started his life at Old Trafford brightly, netting 11 goals in his first 14 games.

The Netherlands international started the Red Devils' midweek clash with Braga on the bench, but made a significant impact after coming on as a substitute, raising questions over United's ability to play without him in the line-up.

Ferguson's men have so far won every game in which the 29-year-old has scored en route to the top of the Premier League table and beyond the Champions League group stage.

"I don't think it's a problem relying on Robin," he said. "Last year, we lost (the title) on goal difference. I don't expect us to lose on goal difference again."

Van Persie has been likened to his compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy since making the move to United, but Ferguson dismissed the comparison.

"Robin is a very different player to Van Nistelrooy," said Ferguson. "Ruud was a penalty box player. Robin has a different understanding of the game.

"I never thought we'd get him. There was always the feeling that Arsenal would find a way to get him to stay. But once he made his mind to leave we firmed up our interest because he is one of the best in the business."

This Saturday, United will face Aston Villa, a club which Ferguson has enjoyed great success against in recent years. The Scot expressed his concern for his compatriot and Villa counterpart Paul Lambert on the eve of the clash.

"It is a daunting task as Villa are not where everyone expects them to be," Ferguson said. "Paul Lambert has done well as a manager and is still young.

"But it does take time to change teams and you wonder if the managers changing has a big effect on the playing standards of the team because they have had quite a collection over the years."

Meanwhile, Ferguson confirmed he expects captain Nemanja Vidic to be back for the packed festive programme.

"I think it's Christmas time for Vidic," Ferguson said. "If we get him back for Christmas, then I'll be happy. There's been no setback but we cannot take any chances after his cruciate."

Ferguson Favours Pep for United Job

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to now favour Pep Guardiola as his eventual successor at Manchester United.

On Tuesday, the club's vice-chairman Ed Woodward said that the Old Trafford hierarchy know what "type of manager" will succeed Ferguson, while it was reported in the Spanish press in the summer that Ferguson had met Guardiola in New York.

ESPN has learnt, however, that chief executive David Gill and a member of the Glazer family also met the former Barcelona manager, who left his role at the Camp Nou after four successful years, at that time.

While a United source said that the meeting was "informal", the future is understood to have been discussed.

For his part, Guardiola is known to view United as a particularly attractive proposition. Although he retains interest in Chelsea, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, the Catalan is said to find the sense of history and atmosphere at Old Trafford especially enticing.

In his entire Barcelona career as both a player and manager, Guardiola - who, as a player, was targeted by Ferguson but ultimately signed for Brescia - faced United more than any other English side, and a Catalan source said the club have always fascinated him.

Ferguson and United do not just see Guardiola as one of the few coaches with the required strength of personality to take on such a massive job after the Scot eventually retires, but also an ideal fit given his commitment to both youth and attacking football.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has previously been seen as Ferguson's successor-in-waiting but, although the Red Devils manager retains a good relationship with the Portuguese, other members of the club's hierarchy - particularly Bobby Charlton - are said to be less keen due to a perceived short-term approach.

While the expected date of Ferguson's retirement remains, as ever, undetermined, the manager is widely known to want a significant say in who succeeds him and for the necessary structures to be put in place beforehand for a seamless transition.

When Ferguson was last expected to retire in 2002, only to perform a U-turn, he expressed his dismay that the club had lined up Sven Goran-Eriksson. The United boss criticised the Swede for "not changing much" at his teams.

He is now determined to ensure there is no repeat of that situation and that the right person is in place to prolong his legacy.

On Tuesday, chief executive Woodward said: "We have a view as to what type of manager we want and how and when we'll go about it. But it's in the drawer and long may it stay in the drawer."