Manchester United winger Ashley Young has warned title rivals Manchester City there is no chance his team of serial winners will falter with the English Premier League crown within touching distance.
Young and his United teammates return to league action against manager-less Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday determined to get back on track after a pair of frustrating setbacks.
After being dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, United blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
But Alex Ferguson’s side remain firmly on course to regain the English title from champions City after surging 12 points clear at the top.
And England international Young is convinced the experience of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who have all won countless trophies with United, will ensure they don’t throw away their lead.
“When you move to a club like United, you look at the trophy cabinet and what they have won,” Young said.
“In the dressing room everybody is a born winner. The manager gives you that belief to win every game and win trophies.
“At a club like Manchester United winning is a habit. You go into every game wanting to win and there is a disappointment when you don’t do it, and that includes during training.
“Even there it is the same winning mentality you take that on to the pitch in games.”
City take on Everton, a team they have only beaten once in seven games during manager Roberto Mancini’s reign.
David Moyes’ men will be desperate to defeat the champions at Goodison Park as they look to erase the bitter taste of last weekend’s FA Cup exit against Wigan.
One man who knows Everton particularly well is defender Joleon Lescott, who left the Toffees in 2009 to join City on a STG22 million ($A32 million) deal.
“We know it’s a very tough game, and has been since I joined the club,” said Lescott.
“It might be the case that my move fires them up, but when I was at Everton we beat City on a number of occasions as well.”
While the fate of the title race remains in United’s hands, the battle to qualify for the Champions League is much harder to predict.
Tottenham host Fulham knowing they must win to stay ahead of Chelsea, who are two points behind their London rivals in fourth place.
The Blues face West Ham at Stamford Bridge looking to build on that impressive Cup recovery against United.
Fifth-placed Arsenal travel to Swansea looking to close the gap on Chelsea, who are five points ahead of the Gunners.
At the other end of the table, QPR travel to Aston Villa for a crunch relegation clash.