Peter Schmeichel warns incoming David De Gea: This isn't just any old club

David De Gea should be ready to "step up" when he signs for Manchester United, believes former Red Devils shot stopper Peter Schmeichel.

De Gea is seen as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar and it was revealed the Spaniard is expected to move to Old Trafford in a £17.5 million deal on June 1. 

But Schmeichel believes he will need to be ready for the pressure that come from playing for the Premier League champions.

"De Gea has done very well at Atletico but now he has to step up a level because he is not just signing for any old team, he is signing for Manchester United," he said, according to the Daily Mirror.

"This is not just by chance. Ferguson does not sign anyone like that. When he signs someone it is because he has followed them for a long time.

"When he arrives there in July, Ferguson will tell him everything he needs to know."

Ferguson revels in Man Utd being, “the most successful team in the country”

Sir Alex was proud of his team’s exertions as they overcame nearest rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford and move to within one point of a record-breaking 19th league championship.

"We could've scored six in the second half, but we expected a tough game and we got a tough game," Ferguson told Sky Sports 1.

"We were brilliant - we got a great start but Cech made some fantastic saves.

"When we gave the ball away for their goal, we were a bit nervy but the fans helped us.

"We kept making chances and Rooney could've scored six today."

"It's fantastic to be the most successful team in the country," he added. "The minute we won that first title in 1992 the door opened, and we've been involved in the first two all throughout that period - it's a fantastic achievement.

"For the last 17 or 18 years it's been Arsenal and Chelsea as our nearest challengers, and the last few years it's been Chelsea. Arsenal made a great attempt this year but them losing today has finalised it.

"We deserve the title and hopefully we'll get that point now."

To miss out now would take a collapse of the magnitude witnessed in the 1956 Grand National.

Ferguson: Retirement the right choice for van der Sar

Sir Alex Ferguson says goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is right to finish his playing days at the end of the season.

The 40-year old Dutchman will call time on an extensive and hugely successful career when the current campaign is completed and despite some calls from outsiders for him to continue, his boss feels it is the right time for the decision.

"If I was giving advice to Edwin van der Sar, right now, I would say retire," said the United manager.

"He is at the absolute pinnacle of his career but sometimes, when a player gets to that age, age comes onto you very suddenly.

"I wouldn't want to see Edwin van der Sar in that situation. He deserves to go out at the very top and hopefully he does that.

"His career has been absolutely fantastic.

"It is not just what he does on the football field. It is how he has handled himself as a professional and a human being.

"He is absolutely outstanding. In our dressing room at half-time and before games, he is absolutely fantastic.

"My advice to him is that this is the time. There is no reason for him to risk another year and maybe drop below his standard."

Ferguson hints discussing Man Utd succession plan with Mourinho!

Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted he's discussed a succession plan with Jose Mourinho.

The coach has ambitions of succeeding Ferguson at Old Trafford.

"Jose is a great friend of mine," Ferguson said. "We have spoken many times about his future and I understand his wish to return to England because here a coach has more freedom than in Spain, without the constant following of the media and radio.

"But it's difficult for me to say when my position will be available.

"It will be my health that decides. I will continue until I no longer feel the energy that has always accompanied me.

"My father, who worked in the shipyards, retired at the age of 65 and one year later he was dead.

"The worst you can do is to say I have worked for 45 years and now I have a right to rest. You need to always remain active and in good form."

Ferguson plans to go back to school after retirement

Sir Alex Ferguson will go back to school when he retires.

Fergie revealed he would study new languages if he did retire.

He said: "I did four years of German at school.

"I've been studying French for years and I could take on Italian - I already know quite a few sentences."

Ferguson delighted with Man Utd strikers goals record

Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with the output of his forward line.

Ferguson feels his striker's form has covered the injury problems his squad has suffered this season.

“What has kept us going despite the injuries we have had in defensive positions is that there has been a good goal threat from us. We have forwards who can win matches,” said Sir Alex.

“I am happy with our forward play. Chicharito’s development is a great bonus. Wayne Rooney’s form is coming back. They have been marvellous the two of them together.

“I said at the start of the season if we get two players who can score over 20 goals we are in with a great chance of winning something. Wayne is now on 12. Chicharito is on 17 and Berbatov is on 21. That is a good return and we have quite a few games left.

“I think my prediction is going to be accurate.”

Ferguson: Hernandez family pedigree forces Chicharito to succeed

Sir Alex Ferguson says Javier Hernandez's football pedigree has helped him become the player he is.

The striker has been a revelation for United this season.

"Not everybody can come to Manchester United and be a star," he Ferguson. "These talented youngsters need to become involved gradually, as we did with [Cristiano] Ronaldo. But "Chicharito" has a great advantage. There are many father and son relationships in football, but in his case it is grandfather, father and son, all three having played in the World Cup finals [for Mexico].

"It gives a tradition to the family which he does not want to fail and pushes him to give his best – with an incredible goal-to-shot ratio."

Ferguson: Retirement? That is for young people

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed talk of retirement.

Even if United win a record 19th league title this season and another treble, Fergie insists he won’t retire.

“I think retirement is for young people,” he said. “They can do something.

“If you’ve got your fitness, you’ve not got a problem. If you have got your health, you don’t have a problem.”

Ferguson reveals plans to buy three new players!!!

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he will be seeking to buy this summer.

Ferguson was asked about his transfer plans during yesterday's media conference announcing their preseason tour of the USA.

Ferguson said: “We have certain targets in mind at the moment anyway. I think two or three will be fulfilled, there’s no question about that.

“The Glazer family have always been very supportive of our desires to improve the team.”

The manager went on to talk about the club’s track record of acquiring top young players and developing them at Old Trafford.

“What we are good at is bringing young players to the club, like Chicharito for example. If you look at how, over the last six to eight years, we’ve brought in young players like Ronaldo, Rooney – okay, one was seventeen, the other was eighteen – we’re good at that. I don’t see why we should change from what we’re good at.

“We will continue [to buy players], without question, and when the opportunity does arrive and we identify the right young players, that’s the way we’ll go.”

Man Utd intermediaries tell Mourinho he must wait 12 months (at least) to succeed Fergie

Jose Mourinho knows he must wait 12 months - at least - to succeed Sir Alex at Manchester United.

The Mail on Sunday says he has been told that his dream job of replacing Ferguson at Old Trafford will have to wait for at least another year.

That the Scot intends to stay on for at least another year will be welcome news at Old Trafford but it could mean United missing out on a manager who is among the most qualified to succeed him.

One Premier League source said: "Jose has learned that Ferguson has no intention of retiring in the foreseeable future."

Ferguson: I cannot change Van der Sar mind

Sir Alex Ferguson admits there's no changing the mind of retiring goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

There have been claims that the golden oldie Dutch keeper might do that and play on next season.

But Fergie dismissed any chance of that, although he revealed there might be the possibility of Van der Sar returning to the club one day, presumably in a coaching capacity or ambassadorial role.

The United boss said: “There is no chance of Edwin changing his mind – definitely not.

“He’s marvellous, absolutely brilliant and a fantastic man. But I haven’t spoken to him about ­changing his mind. He has got his plans for next year. He is taking a break and going back to Holland, where he has a new house and he
is going to do a bit of work there.

“Then he is going to return here for September, when his son starts school in Wilmslow. I think that is his plan. He is going to take a break from football, then come back in.

“I believe he is planning to live in England because his son’s schooling is here.

“There are possibilities there for us – but first he is taking a break. He hasn’t made his mind up about what to do after that.

“He has had a long period in the game and is coming up to 41.

“He wants to spend some time with his wife, because she has had a tough couple of years.”

Cantona fears for Man Utd when Ferguson steps down

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona fears for the club when Sir Alex retires.

Speaking to the New York Times, Cantona insisted Ferguson is crucial to United when asked whether he is staying away from the club until the Glazers are no longer the owners.

Cantona said: “All I will say is that I think Ferguson will stay as the manager, after that, there will be more problems. Today, he is like Gandhi on the game side. With Manchester, I prefer to say, to think, to realise that Ferguson is a kind of genius.

“He had so many different generations of players now. He’s 70 (later this year) and works with players 18 years old, but adapts himself to all generations.

“This one is especially different. With [Dimitar] Berbatov, he worked hard and waited because he knew he had a great player.

“Ferguson takes strong personalities and works with them psychologically. It is very important. It worked for me, 100 per cent. It was for the team. I accepted everything because he gave me freedom on the pitch.

“He gave me the No. 7 shirt and it became important to me, though I might not have realised its importance in the beginning.

“I never felt the pressure. He had a kind of confidence in me to give me the No. 7. It was an honour.”

Ferguson: Heinze agent engineered him out of Man Utd!

Sir Alex Ferguson blames Gaby Heinze's agent for his controversial exit.

The Marseille defender faces his former club tonight.

Ferguson avoided any further acrimony last night by blaming Heinze's agent for the fall-out.

"I had no issue at all with Gabby when he left," insisted the United boss. "He was a fantastic player for us, a warrior.

"I thought he had a bad agent who engineered the situation and tried to trick (chief executive) David Gill.

"We then proved it had no foundation and stopped the agent's attempts to get him to Liverpool at the time."

Ferguson: I would be proud to call Giggs my son

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would be proud to call Ryan Giggs his son!

Giggs penned a new deal with United last week.

Ferguson said: “Ryan always had the potential to be a special player and was richly endowed with speed, balance, touch and a courage that, whether he was dribbling with the ball or sprinting past opponents to receive it in areas of maximum threat, he could leave the best defenders with twisted blood.

“He’s had a brilliant career, he’s still making an outstanding contribution and still has an influence on the young players in the dressing room.

“He’s a fine man who has been a credit to his family and this club and is someone you’d be proud to call your own son.”

Ferguson can manage Man Utd as long as he wants – Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton says fellow Commander of the Order of the British Empire,Sir Alex, can manage Manchester United for as long as he sees fit.

The Scottish tactician has been at the helm at Old Trafford since 1986, winning 11 league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League trophies.

Ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby against City, United legend Charlton said that the top job at Old Trafford is Ferguson’s for as long as he wants it.

“Any City fan I meet on a train will ask me, ‘When will it stop?’,” said Charlton. “The average length of a career as a manager is barely three years and Alex has been there for 25.

“He’s brought so many teams through and at the moment he’ll be thinking, ‘What’s next?’ – it’s marvellous.

“Alex can go on as long as he wants. There’s no body language to suggest he’s not enjoying every minute now, like he always has done. He can’t help it, he’s just a genius at what he does. And he’ll continue.”

Man Utd duo earn player and manager of the month gongs

The Barclays Manager and Player of the Month for January are Manchester United pair Sir Alex Ferguson and Dimitar Berbatov.

United have had a fantastic start to the year, winning four and drawing one of their five matches to extend their unbeaten 2010/11 campaign.

Ferguson wins the award for an unprecedented 25th time in his distinguished career.

Bulgarian striker Berbatov, the leading scorer in the Premier League this season, scored five more goals in January to take his tally to 19.

It is the first time that Berbatov has won the award as a United player.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel that includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Ferguson: We did try to buy in January

Sir Alex Ferguson admits they did try to buy in the winter transfer window.

United's progress allowed Ferguson to again maintain a low profile in the January market.

He may have broken the British transfer record on six occasions, but the 69-year-old sees no value in the current market.

"We tried to do one bit of business this time but it didn't work. Getting the value in today's market is difficult, but we have faith in our youth system. We trust in it."

Ferguson: No more football when I retire

Whenever that much speculated day arrives,Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will walk away from football without a backward glance, to pastures new.

The 69 year old has shown no inclination to call it a day and has consistently said as long as he remains healthy, he will carry on.

And when he leaves the game for good the Scot will not be seeking another position somewhere else.

"I will probably have an interest in Manchester United in some capacity of course but the important thing is to cut yourself completely off," Ferguson told ESPN.

"I would never go to any other job or anything like that, no chance.

"Once I'm finished at United I'll be heading for the hills and the sunset.

"I will be taking a rest but the important thing for anyone who retires is to be active, so I will take other interests up."

Ferguson admits struggling to find best role for Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he's struggling to get the best from Wayne Rooney.

Ferguson admits to being impressed with Javier Hernandez's ongoing progress and faces something of a selection poser now that he is outshining Rooney.

Following the midweek encounter at Bloomfield Road, Ferguson said: "We tried to use Wayne as a wide player and although he has played that role well many times, he was just not getting into the game in the first half.

"It was no fault of his. The rhythm of our game wasn't right. We were all over the place.

"We then tried to put him through the middle but, when we were still 2-0 down 20 minutes into the second half, we had to do something and had to gamble.

"Chicharito [Hernandez] was a gamble. But of course immediately he went right through and forced a terrific save from their goalkeeper.

"Then he got the equaliser for us and in fact could have scored four goals. So he made a great impact."

Cristiano Ronaldo: Ferguson is my best friend

Cristiano Ronaldo regards Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson among his best friends in football.

Ferguson has made it no secret he would love to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

And Ronaldo said: "I have often said that he was a father figure for me in football.

"I keep saying that because he is a good friend and someone I learned a lot from.

"He's in my heart."