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Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson’s determination to secure another historic treble this season.
Talk of a repeat of United’s unprecedented success in 1998/99 has grown in recent weeks, with United having secured a 12 point gap over Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League over Manchester City, and have gotten themselves into a healthy position in the Champions League following a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last week.
Ferguson’s attention will be diverted to the FA Cup this evening, as he looks to confirm a quarter final clash with either Middlesborough or Chelsea with a win over Reading at Old Trafford.
"The manager has stressed that he expects to go to the end in all three competitions," Chris Smalling told Sky Sports.
"The FA Cup is notoriously unpredictable. Luton reached the fifth round this year, which shows that anything can happen so there is no point looking too far ahead.
"But our home form has been good and another victory can give us the impetus to kick on and get to another final."
Ferguson’s determination to lift the FA Cup once again this season has been highlighted by the manager and players alike. United last lifted the trophy in 2004, and with only Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes the only players in the squad to have claimed a cup winners medal, Smalling is insistent that progression to the next round is expected.
"I was quite shocked at how long it has been since United won the FA Cup," said Smalling. "It is a massive competition and one we all look forward to.
"Before we played West Ham in the third round, the manager stressed how much we wanted to win this tournament.
"There are quite a lot of lads who haven't won it despite being here for quite a while."
