Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists his team can win the Premiership and Champions League.

A hefty defeat eventually arrived last season in the second leg of their last four tussle with AC Milan, a result Ferguson blamed on an acute lack of bodies after United were struck down by an ill-timed spate of injuries.

The Old Trafford chief has attempted to ward off such a problem this time around by not letting quite as many of his promising youngsters leave on loan.

Yet, it is also a fact that Milan had long since abandoned any hope of winning Serie A, a situation which also applied to fellow finalists Liverpool, and Arsenal the year before.

However, Ferguson dismisses the theory it is not possible for a club to contest the major prizes both at home and abroad.

"It can be done," he said.

"We came quite close last year and I have said many times, the thing that let us down in Milan was the lack of freshness due to the same players having to play in so many games.

"Although we don't have our full squad available at present, we have tried to guard against the same situation and the young players we have retained will give us a far better support system."