You won't see bust-ups here, we really are united - Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson believes his players have the team ethic and togetherness to stay at the top of the pile.

Ferguson is adamant that the kind of team-mates’ bust-up witnessed in three Premier League fixtures last week – one of them ­inevitably featuring ­Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli – would never happen in his side.

“I wouldn’t allow it,” ­Fergie declared. “A team wins the league.”

City have been dogged by in-house squabbles and could be virtually out of the title contest if they lose at Arsenal on Sunday, and United beat QPR earlier in the day.

United have had strong characters down the years, but Ferguson has kept them in check and ensured the heavy-duty confrontations have stayed in-house.

Ferguson said: “We do have a good unity and you can take that for granted. We tend to do that here. We expect it. But it doesn’t ­happen everywhere.

“You see Wayne ­Hennessey and Roger Johnson (of Wolves) squaring up to one another (in last week's loss to Bolton) and that’s probably born out of frustration.

“But you see the general ­atmosphere among our players at moments such as when they score a goal.

“That’s how you judge it. You need unity.”