Darren Fletcher feels that Manchester United have the strongest squad in the Barclays Premier League as they go into the Christmas period six-points clear at the top.
Fletcher himself returned to the squad following 10-months on the sidelines suffering from Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition. But with Jones, Smalling and Vidic coming back into the squad he feels that United have more strength in depth than others in the league.
Speaking with PA Sport Fletcher said:
“We always feel we have the strongest squad, in terms of starting XI and strength in depth we have a real quality squad. There is so much competition for places.
“Some of the matches on the training ground are really intense because everyone wants to play and be involved. That is great for the manager. When you get the number of injuries we have had, especially in defence, it is important you have a big squad.
“The fact Chris and Phil Jones are coming back, Nemanja is coming back. We have a strong, fit squad with a lot of choices. I think it is the strongest squad around.”
The fight for a place in the first-team midfield is harder than ever with everyone playing on top of their games recently, Fletcher concedes that he and the rest of the squad are constantly jostling for the call up to start from the boss.
“We have always had a lot of strength in depth in midfield; it is the same this season, Tom [Cleverley] has been fantastic. He had a great start to last season but he picked up an unfortunate injury. He has been on fire this season.
“We have the experience of Ryan [Giggs] and Paul [Scholes]. Michael Carrick has been outstanding. I’m coming back, getting games under my belt and getting stronger. Anderson’s injured just now. There’s a lot of competition for places and everyone is competing well.”
Darren Fletcher insists that it is important to crack on now that the reds are six-points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
“It feels good to be six points clear, it was good to win the derby, especially after what happened last year, but it is important that we kick on and think just because we beat Manchester City and are six points clear, we can’t take it for granted.
“It is important that we keep pushing on and really putting pressure on Manchester City.”
2 replies on “Darren Fletcher feels United have the strongest squad in the league”
Our starting XI is not really the strongest but our squad depth is very strong, with the likes of kagawa valencia young rooney cleverly welbeck. And maybe nani we are so flexible and unpredictable.
its debatable if we have the strongest squad or starting 11, but its my opinion that we have both.
in defence if you take evra rafa rio and vida as our 1st choice we have a reserve backline of buttner(ok he is unproven) evans( possibly 1st choice) smalling and phil jones. theres no way a reserve defence like that in the world never mind the epl. the midfield options have been covered and im sure we have the best squad of midfielders although starting 11 midfielders i concede we may not have the best, but i honestly would not swap valencia for any other right sided player in the league, and in cleverly, scholes, giggs, carrick, anderson, kagawa and powell i believe we have a better mix of players than any other team and if used at the right times can be a massive advantage! ashley young and nani are bettered only by bale, hazard mata and silva in my opinion, so admitedly we could do with a top class left winger.
up front i dont need to comment really…..awesome!
i dont really think there is much doubt about who has the strongest squad in the league……starting 11?
rooney
rvp
valencia
vida
rafa…..wouldnt swap any of them for any alternative and thats half a team!