ManU boss gives history lesson to team on blown up titles

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given his team a history lesson in blowing titles to make sure they do not get too complacent.

Manchester United can go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League tonight with victory over Blackburn.

But the memories of surrendering a 12-point lead to Arsenal in 1998 and losing the title on the final day of the season in 1995 still burn deep for the Old Trafford gaffer, The Sun reported.

"My feeling is that we don't get carried away because this game can kick you in the teeth. In 1998 we lost a 12-point lead to Arsenal and that's a great reminder of going the whole road and not taking rests. We don't need a rest - the players are young, fit, and fresh," Ferguson said.

"We just have to make sure we keep our focus on every game. Every game for us now is a must-win situation," he added.

Despite winning 10 Premier League titles, Ferguson remembers the details of the ones that got away as if they were yesterday.

"You can't forget the chance we missed at West Ham in 1995 when we only needed one goal to win the league. We should have had a penalty, there was a clear handball. Then in 1998 we threw it away. It was a foregone conclusion until the start of March," he said.

"Prior to the Champions League tie in Monaco we got Giggs injured, Schmeichel was carrying an injury, Scholes played with a broken toe and we had to play him wide right against Arsenal to keep him away from the central midfield.

"Cole and Sheringham were the only ones playing regularly at that time because Solskjaer was also injured. It told in the run-in because it meant we couldn't freshen that part up. Injuries played their part and when you lose a game, it gives the team chasing you real encouragement," he added.