Sir Alex Ferguson would never want to besmirch the achievements of the Manchester United team who won an unprecedented treble of Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup 12 years ago.
But the United manager believes that a repeat of the feat this season would comfortably eclipse the success of 1998-99, given the plethora of injuries his squad has had to contend with throughout the campaign.
Ferguson’s team visit West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League this lunchtime for the first of five games over 15 days that will shape the club’s season.
With a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea, a league match at home to Fulham and a mouthwatering FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley to follow, it promises to be a taxing time for United’s depleted squad.
Ferguson has been deprived of 13 players for six weeks or more this season, with Darren Fletcher, the midfield player, and Anders Lindegaard, the goalkeeper, on course to add to that list, and the manager will have only four defenders available against West Ham, a far cry from the run-in in 1999 when United posted a clean bill of health.
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“It [the treble] is more difficult than in 1999 because we didn’t have an injury then,” Ferguson said. “We went through the last three months of the season without one injury. It was amazing. That kind of luck has deserted us because we have so many injuries, particularly to defenders, which makes it more difficult. But there’s a great desire to do it [win the treble].
“We never give in. No matter what the scoreline, you always feel that Manchester United are going to score in the last minute. We must have a chance but it’s more difficult than it’s ever been. It would be a great achievement to get through this spell with the injury situation we’ve had. We’ve got the ability to do that, and the attitude and character.”
Although Ferguson said that he would welcome back Nemanja Vidic, the captain, and Anderson, the midfield player, against West Ham, Rafael Da Silva, the right back, resumed training only on Thursday after a hamstring problem.
John O’Shea and Wes Brown, two more defenders, will not start training again until Monday after hamstring and calf injuries respectively and Jonny Evans, the centre half, is suspended, along with Paul Scholes, the midfield player.
It means that Fabio Da Silva is likely to have to deputise at right back at Upton Park today, although Ferguson did raise the possibility of Rio Ferdinand returning to action next week.
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The United manager recently cast doubt on whether the England defender would play again this season because of a calf complaint, but there is an outside chance that he could be involved against Chelsea.