Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted harbouring doubts about his team's commitment after the defeat at Burnley two weeks ago but appears determined to stick with the players he has, declaring it would be an "insult" to abandon his instincts and launch a deadline day foray into the transfer market.
"After the Burnley game, I examined our commitment, but after analysing our failings, I didn't think we were lacking in that area," Ferguson said. "I must always guard against complacency. Some players can drive themselves on while others are happy to settle for an easy life, but Manchester United cannot afford that kind of player. You don't suddenly scrap your transfer policy because of one defeat, even if it was a bad one."
It certainly seems that Ferguson will be as good as his word, with only an eleventh-hour move by cash-strapped Valencia to sell David Villa likely to alter that picture.
Though the absence of an offensive threat, following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, appeared to be Ferguson's most substantial problem, it was United's midfield which raised question marks in the unconvincing 2-1 win over Arsenal. Key to United's strength there is the rehabilitation of Owen Hargreaves who is back in training on 23 September after operations on both knees.
Ferguson remains uncertain of how near to match readiness he is. "The difficult part will be to get him back in the football side of it," the manager said. "I say 'difficult' because we've not really seen him operate at this moment in time. We're relying on information we're getting from the States. We're certain of one thing, his fitness will be good, his endurance work will have been done, we will just have to gauge when the right time is to put him into the football side of it. You don't have a player who has been out for over a year and suddenly throw him into the fire right away. I think we'll be taking our time."
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