Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has responded to Chelsea captain John Terry’s claim that the defending champions have no higher gear to shift up to….

Manchester United launch their bid to secure a hat-trick of Premier League titles this weekend. And manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident about his team’s chances and unfazed by rivals Chelsea’s taunts that they have already peaked.

Ferguson says his players are ready to prove, starting against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Sunday, that they do have more gears to move up to.

“That is a challenge for us,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“With the young players we have like Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney, Nani there is improvement there. Our players have the capacity to improve. So we’ll see.

“I am optimistic because I see no deterioration. We have to protect the dinosaurs a little bit more - Giggs, Scholes and Gary Neville - but they are fit guys.

“Giggs’ endurance tests were the best in the club this summer. Unbelievable. He will play a lot of games for us. He is lucky because he has never carried any weight. He has always looked after himself.

“Scholes and Neville are much the same. There’s a lot of football left in them. Edwin van der Sar is the normal van der Sar. He is looking fantastic for his age and he is a great example of how to look after yourself and give yourself extra years.

“I am expecting a natural progression from the younger ones. It is the same as what I said about Rooney and Ronaldo last season.

“A year ago I was asked if Ronaldo could score more than 23 goals and I replied that I was looking for improvement.

“Improvement can come in different ways for Ronaldo this season. Forty-two goals is a target, it is still possible for him to achieve it given the talent of the boy and his goal-scoring ability but you have to say it’s a big target for him.

“Where you will see the improvement is in his authority and decision-making which comes with experience, which gives you a lot of things, timing especially.”

Ferguson added of Ronaldo, who is recovering from ankle surgery but expected to return to action ahead of schedule:

“There has been no problem at all. His progress has been great, he has never missed a session, morning or afternoon.

“He has been doing excellent. He is well ahead of schedule.”

Ref From Mark Hinton - Goal.com

Tottenham are closing on the signing of Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka. The Croatian international only joined the Blues last season but has impressed Spurs boss Juande Ramos during his first season in the Premier League.

City signed the 22-year old for £7 million last summer but are set to receive at least £8 million if he does move to White Hart Lane. City boss Mark Hughes confirmed yesterday that Spurs were interested in the defender but as yet nothing has been finalised. Corluka was left out of City’s 1-0 victory over AC Milan yesterday, fuelling intense rumours that he was in London having a medical.

I personally feel Corluka is a quality player defender and will be a superb signing for Spurs. However I do think he isn’t the smartest in the defending sense. He is a very attack minded right-back who is prone to being caught out of position but he I think he will be a great replacement for Pascal Chimbonda at White Hart Lane.

Is Corluka good enough for your team? Join the Daily Mirror’s, You the Manager (through the link at the top) and sign the Croatian star for just £4 million. Quality buy!

Ref From football-corner.blogspot.com

Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful of adding to Manchester United’s strike ranks this week - and has not ruled out a shock move for Thierry Henry.

With Louis Saha written out of his plans and Wayne Rooney only just back in training after picking up a virus in Nigeria, Ferguson had only Carlos Tevez to call on for Sunday’s Community Shield win over Portsmouth at Wembley.

Tevez responded with a man-of-the-match display containing everything but a goal as United triumphed in a penalty shoot-out.

But Ferguson admits getting a forward in time for Sunday’s Premier League opener with Newcastle is now a pressing concern.

“It has been pressing since the end of last season,” said the Scot.

“We like to operate with four strikers and we have not been able to do that.”

There is bound to be fresh speculation over a move for Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov, while Karim Benzema, David Villa and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have also been linked with Old Trafford over the last few months.

Henry’s name has just been added to that list despite the 31-year-old’s obvious link with Arsenal.

Tellingly, it was an issue Ferguson chose to skirt round rather than reject.

“There is a name every day,” he said.

“I can’t answer the question because I don’t have the right answer.

“It is possible I will sign someone this week. We are trying and we are looking at one or two options.

“Hopefully we will get something done.”

Ferguson seems to have few problems in other areas.

Even with Owen Hargreaves and Park Ji-sung among the injured and Michael Carrick restricted to a place on the bench, United’s midfield is packed with quality.

And in defence Ferguson is facing one of the biggest dilemmas of his managerial career as he decides whether to stick with Wes Brown, who performed so heroically last season, or bring back Gary Neville, who was making his first domestic appearance since breaking an ankle in March 2007.

“It is a cruel game,” reflected Ferguson.

“Wes only missed two games last season and was absolutely outstanding.

“It is certainly a dilemma. Looking at it, I don’t think Gary will play all the time. If we get 35 games out of him I would be delighted, so Wes Brown can do a job there.”

It seems that Neville might get the nod, although Ferguson does not think the 33-year-old should come into Fabio Capello’s thoughts when the Italian names his England squad for the friendly with the Czech Republic later this week.

“Gary could play in a friendly, that would not be a problem because he needs games,” said Ferguson.

“But I would like him to play a few with us before he got to that crucial moment when you get back into international football.

“Gary had an hour today, which was perfect for him.

“When you think about the length of time Gary has been out for, to come back the way he has is remarkable.

“But he is a remarkable man. He has enthusiasm and determination and the quality of his game is superb.”

Ref From teamtalk.com