Sir Alex Ferguson fires warning to title rivals

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his side's title rivals that Manchester United will only improve in 2010 as they look to retain their Premier League trophy.

United end the year two points off league leaders Chelsea and two ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand, after Wednesday's 5-0 demolition of Wigan.

And Ferguson warned: "The second half of the season is when experience counts and we have that and we have the squad.

"The key is getting the defence fit and then we'll be a much better team."

The return to fitness of Nemanja Vidic, in particular, has allowed Ferguson to select something like a settled back four in their last two matches and United have responded with comfortable wins over Hull and Wigan.