Fergie calls for united players and fans

Ferguson believes the criticism is heaped on his team because of United’s success, which also includes a Champions League title and five FA Cups.

“I know exactly where this is coming from,” Ferguson said yesterday. “Within sections of the media there is a hatred of Manchester United that has always been there. It comes with the territory. But they go over the top.

They try to fragment the club: the players from the supporters and the supporters from the players. Our fans are aware of that and they will not fall into that trap.”

Ferguson said his players are at their best when the fansare behind the team. “Sticking together is the key for us,” he said.

The fans weren’t 100 per cent behind the team last season when American billionaire Malcolm Glazer bought United in a œ 790 million ($1.38 billion) takeover that relied heavily on borrowed money.

But the team has gotten through the protests and complaints, and the fans have continued to fill the Old Trafford seats. But fans have also booed the team and Ferguson after recent games.