Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed Henrik Larsson to Manchester United’s training ground yesterday, hoping that the former Sweden forward can cure his team of the profligacy that cost them at Upton Park on Sunday, but the Scot believes that his players must also emulate something of Chelsea’s fighting spirit if they are to wrestle back the Barclays Premiership title.

United’s lead at the top of the table was cut from five points to two as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by West Ham United hours after Chelsea beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park.

“That’s why Chelsea are champions,” Ferguson said. “From a losing position they clawed their way back to win a game they never looked like winning. We’ve done that ourselves many times in the past, and we’ve got to do the same again.”

Ferguson hopes that Larsson will give United more knowhow, as well as a cool head in front of goal, but the former Celtic and Barcelona forward will have little time to make an impact for United, with his spell on loan from Helsingborgs scheduled to run only from January 2 until March 12.

United’s main target during the January transfer window is Owen Hargreaves, the Bayern Munich and England midfield player. Hargreaves’s hopes of a move to Old Trafford appeared to be raised slightly by Bayern yesterday, with Uli Hoeness, the general manager, saying that the German club might sell if they can find a suitable replacement, but Hoeness added that “nothing is going to happen in the winter break”.

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