United taking small steps to glory

Manchester United will carry on chasing progress in four competitions and try not to worry about winning the lot, according to Mike Phelan.

Phelan: One step at a time

The newly-crowned Club World champions have already booked a Carling Cup final appearance against Tottenham at the start of next month, and beat West Ham on Sunday to regain a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand on second-placed Liverpool.

They also have a Champions League last-16 clash with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan to look forward to, although before that comes a trip to Derby on Sunday at the same stage of the FA Cup.

Yet as each game passes in a congested fixture list, so the murmurings of an unprecedented quadruple become louder, not that the United camp are paying any notice.

"Everybody wants the four trophies but it has never been done," reflected Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Phelan.

"It is obviously difficult and we are just happy to be in it at the moment, getting nearer to the finishing line in every competition.

"The club has been built to sustain challenges in four competitions, so now we will look to the FA Cup and try to pick the right team for Sunday."

The awesome strength of United's squad can be seen in the fact Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Wes Brown were not even called upon to sit on the bench after their recent injuries.

In addition, Gary Neville has a virus, while Owen Hargreaves has been written off altogether this season as he recovers from two knee operations to cure a tendinitis problem.

Yet still United find themselves clear of the pack following the win at Upton Park, knowing their lead on Liverpool will widen to five points, with Aston Villa and Chelsea eight and 10 points adrift respectively, should they win that extra match against Fulham at Old Trafford on February 18.

It is hard to see anyone closing that gap, yet Phelan is refusing to take anything for granted.

"It is a race, that is the thing," he said. "Where the challenge comes from doesn't really matter.

"If we train well and play well, pick the right team and the players do their jobs we have a good chance to capitalise."