Ferguson backs Rooney to deliver title

AFP - 29 March 2008 22:23

Manchester United´s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) tries to pass Aston Villa´s Nigel Reo-Coker during their Premiership match at home to Manchester United at Old Trafford football stadium. Ronaldo continued his outstanding campaign with a goal and three assists as Manchester United cruised to victory over Aston Villa to open up a six-point gap at the head of the Premier League.

LONDON (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney's double against Aston Villa could trigger a scoring run that will deliver Manchester United the Premier League title.

Rooney ended his six-game drought as United cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over UEFA Cup hopefuls Villa with Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez adding the other two.

The win lifted United six points clear at the head of the table with six games remaining although Chelsea could reduce that deficit to five if they win their game in hand.

Ferguson, though, is convinced his players have upped their level of performance at a crucial time and that having returned to the score-sheet, Rooney will now exert a major influence on United's bid to pull off a double of league and Champions League.

"It was great to see him get off the mark and Wayne's the kind of striker who can go on a run now," the United manager said.

"He did that last season, scoring in six or seven games and he has scored at a very, very important time for us.

"I think the players hit a peak last week (against Liverpool) in terms of the level they need to reach and I think it continued today.

"They know now it's a race to the line. This is the consistency we need. We need real focus. I think the players realise we need consistency and we want top level performances all the time.

"I think that was one of our best performances, particularly this time of year when there are only a few games to go you are hoping for this kind of performance. At this time of year to see that freshness, I think it was a good day for us.

And he added: "We have four away games and two at home. Arsenal's performance today was terrific to come back from two down with only ten men but the big bonus is we have scored three extra goals than Arsenal today so in that way it's been a good day. The goal difference could be very, very important."

Ferguson's only concern were slight injuries to four of his players ahead of the visit to AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

"There were a few injuries today," said Ferguson.

"I took off Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra because they were injured and Ryan Giggs had to come off before the end which wasn't too good. But hopefully they will be alright

"Roma have improved this season but we have played them twice already and we know exactly what to expect. It won't be easy but the form we are in now, we are looking forward to it."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill refused to concede his side's hopes of finishing sixth and qualifying for Europe despite Villa's failure to win for a fifth successive game.

"The other results have gone for us apart from Portsmouth winning and we are very capable of forcing our way back into it," said the Villa manager.

"We were well beaten and United were terrific today. That's why the top four are a class apart. But we have now got to concentrate on our own league and our own season.

"That was the standard Aston Villa has to aspire to but we are a long way short of it."