Darren Fletcher has quashed suggestions Manchester United are back to their old selves following their 2-0 away victory over West Ham United on Saturday.
The Reds recovered from last week’s mauling at the hands of Liverpool to record their third win in four league matches after qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
However, Fletcher insisted that no one at the club is getting carried away with recent results and are well aware of how much more there is left to do, as evidenced by their position in the league.
“The team don’t like what’s happening this season,” he told The Sunday Times.
“The biggest thing, and I felt it, there’s been no real celebration since Olympiakos. No ‘wow, we’re back’. There’s a lot of work to do. At the end of the game it was ‘listen lads, we’ve done nothing’.
“We’re in the Champions League but our league position doesn’t give us any right to make out we’re back.”
The Scotland international was present as Wayne Rooney caught Hammers ’keeper Adrian San Miguel del Castillo flat-footed to score a volley from the half-way line that David Moyes described as ‘brilliant’.
As well as praising his side’s performance, the United boss took a different approach that usual when looking forward to Tuesday’s derby clash with Manchester City.
Rather than his regular spiel about ‘trying to win’, Moyes said that he is only concerned with beating United’s cross-town rivals and is not distracted by thoughts of derailing the Citizens’ title challenge.
“I can only see it as us winning,” he said.
“I want to be competing for the title and I’m not, so that for me is a big enough low, never mind thinking about who else wins it. City has its own focus and we have ours.
“There is an added importance if you win big games and it’s something we’ve not done often enough this season.”
Despite his side’s indifferent form in 2013-14, the 50-year-old is optimistic about what lies ahead further down the road.
“We are building already, with my thoughts and vision for next year,” said Moyes. “In every game we have to start looking to that. We need to be in there competing for titles next year.
“That’s what this club has done and all the other clubs have had periods where they haven’t been competing for titles.”
Patrice Evra is also focused on repaying the fans faith by getting one over their Manchester rivals after the embarrassment at the hands of their North West counterparts.
“If you lose 3-0 against Liverpool, I think the fans will boo you,” said Evra. “We deserved that. But I was in shock because they were still singing until the last second.
“You have to make sure, when people give you something, you have to give back. It’s payback. Against any team.
“I’m not God to know what’s going to happen against City. The only thing I can guarantee is that my team-mates and myself will give everything we’ve got inside. When we play with the heart, it’s difficult to beat Man United.”
Image courtesy of Lulu Mak, via YouTube, with thanks.
