Fergie: Nobody has our character

Fergie: Nobody has our character

Published Mar. 19, 2011 9:17 p.m. ET

Sir Alex Ferguson believes nobody has the same character as his Manchester United side.

And Ferguson hailed his side's ability to win despite not playing well.

Sir Alex Ferguson had no complaints over the red card, which will rule Evans out of Premier League encounters with West Ham and Fulham, plus the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley on April 16.

However, he insisted Evans is not a malicious player.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We have had five massive games in the last couple of weeks," said Ferguson.

"It has been a hard programme and the lads deserve a lot of praise for that.

"This was not a 100% top performance from us but we never gave in.

"That is what the character of this club is all about. No other club in the country has got that.

"We are fantastic at gritting our teeth and getting something out of a dead situation."

Ferguson also had no complaints about Jonny Evans's sending off, issued after the Northern Ireland defender inflicted a serious-looking injury on Stuart Holden.

"The referee has seen the player had a bad injury," observed Ferguson, who watched the contest from the directors' box as he began a five-match touchline ban.

"Both players went for the same ball, with their feet raised, and Jonny caught the lad. Once you raise your feet you are putting yourself in a dangerous area. It was unfortunate but we cannot complain."

Holden was taken straight to hospital from the game.

Ferguson confirmed he had lost Wes Brown to injury at half-time, a problem that, given the introduction of Fabio at right-back, required Berbatov's arrival too to combat Bolton's added height.

"We have two weeks now to try and patch up the injuries," said Ferguson.

With a five point lead over Arsenal, having played a game more, United are certainly in the position Wayne Rooney was hoping for judging by quotes in the match programme as he looked ahead to a potential 19th league title.

"A 19th title is something I have been thinking about a lot," he told United Review.

"I am obviously from Liverpool and grew up as an Everton fan, so to be part of the team that wins a record title and overtakes Liverpool would mean so much to us players as well as the fans.

"I know all the Everton fans want us to do it, and that is our aim."

And Coyle admits results such as today's are what championships are built on.

"They have an unbelievable ability and desire to keep winning games and championships," said the Scot.

"Sir Alex will have seen games like that, year after year, game-in, game-out.

"They are also buoyed on by 75,000 fans. That helps as well."

share