Ferguson says squad better than '99

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that his current Manchester United squad is stronger than the one that claimed the treble in 1999.

Ferguson's side is on course to repeat that historic feat this season.

They are 12 points clear in the Premier League title race, secured a draw at Real Madrid to put them in touching distance of the quarter-finals of the Champions League and can progress to the same stage of the FA Cup with a win over Reading on Monday.

And Ferguson highlighted the fact that he now has far more options at his disposal than he had 14 years ago.

"We have a stronger squad now," Ferguson said. "When we went to the (Champions League) final, (Roy) Keane and (Paul) Scholes were suspended but Henning Berg was the only injury. I still had to pull in a player (Jonathan Greening) who had only played once or twice in the first-team. He got a medal for being on the bench. That gives you an idea of the strength of the squad."

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However, Ferguson admits that if they are to secure another Treble this season they cannot afford to lose their focus for a moment.

"It is nice to look back on these things and think how it was done at that particular time," said Ferguson. But the reality is that we should not get carried away, particularly in the FA Cup when anything can happen. You don't want to be a shock.

"In many people's eyes Monday would be, 'yes, it's Reading, we have just been to Madrid, it was a great night, Monday will take care of itself'. Monday can't take care of itself. We have to take care of that. We must get a performance off the players that respects our opponents and also the fact the FA Cup can produce shocks."