United’s resilience is key to Bilbao battle

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s renowned refusal to give in is the major reason they are currently top of the Premier League.

They were turfed out of the Champions League by a Basel side that conceded seven to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, beaten 6-1 at home by Manchester City and, trailing 3-2 from the first leg, stand on the brink of a second early European exit in Bilbao tonight.

But United are favourites to retain their domestic title, even though skipper Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher have been absent since December.

“We have done really well to hang in there,” said Ferguson. “That is more or less what we have done no matter what the team has been.

“For instance [at Bilbao], with [Phil] Jones and [Chris] Smalling not available that’s a door slamming in the face again. But we keep carrying on and it does point to a resilience in the team that is really admirable.

“Yes, there was the disappointment in the Champions League but we still can win this game and I think the players believe that.”

Unlike Jones, who has stayed in Manchester with a virus, Smalling has travelled but will not be risked from the start after re-opening a nasty head wound in last week’s first-leg defeat.

Brazilian midfielder Anderson will be out of action for between four and five weeks with a hamstring injury. He has been plagued with fitness problems this season and didn’t fly to Spain.

“It’s a difficult tie for us,” said Ferguson. “Bilbao have a tremendous advantage now, so it’s a challenge but not one that is beyond us. Our record away from home in Europe helps us. We have done really well the last few years away from home but it’s going to need a good performance.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson confirmed yesterday that United’s record signing Dimitar Berbatov is set to leave Old Trafford in the summer. The £30.75 million forward has found first-team places difficult to come by since being left out of the United squad for last season’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

“His concern is not getting first-team football,” said Ferguson. “At 31, he is looking at first-team football.

“It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere.”