Darren Fletcher claims his United team-mates have been angered by recent criticism from the media and insists the Reds are ready to turn this season around.
United notched a first win of 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Swansea on Saturday after suffering three consecutive defeats in all competitions, a disappointing run of form after which one newspaper claimed the players were not fully behind David Moyes.
Former boss Sir Alex Ferguson's attendance at matches has also, strangely, been scrutinised in the press. However, when asked how the squad feels about such speculation, Fletcher was unflinching in his response.
"It gets us angry because we know it is not true, that is the biggest thing," the Scot explained. "We are there every day and we realise that the players are fully behind the manager. Alex Ferguson being in the stand has no bearing on anything, it is great to see him there supporting the team and I think it would be a worry if he wasn't.
"I think we have just got to be believe in ourselves and keep a close-knit group, keep making sure that the experienced players are guiding the younger players in the right way and that we are coming together as a team. I think winning games helps that, it is the only way you get through that and we have got to keep doing that."
Fletcher made his seventh appearance of the season on Saturday and completed another 90 minutes with
relative ease, continuing his personal rehabilitation following a prolonged battle with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
Crucially, as one of United's most experienced squad members, the likeable Scot is also guiding the club's younger players through a testing period, a responsibility he is relishing.
"I think it comes naturally with experience, you have been there and done it. I have been in situations when we have been written off and booed and all of the things that go with it. You come through that and you are stronger for it. You have got to do that.
"I had experienced players around me at those times who really backed me and gave me great advice. I am just playing on experience. I am getting match fitness back, I am getting stronger with every game. But experience is the biggest thing, having a bit of knowledge about the game and having been there and done it for such a long time really helps."
source: http://www.manutd.com/en/
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