For the second time in three weeks one of the sport's leading managers was sitting in a banqueting suite being asked on the eve of a crucial match whether his team had, in marathon-running parlance, hit the wall.

Sir Alex Ferguson's response yesterday was every bit as defiant as that of Arsène Wenger; now the Manchester United manager must hope that his team prove him right this evening, something that Arsenal's players could not do when their moment of truth arrived in the Champions League.

Whether mentally or physically, Ferguson's players have shown far greater powers of endurance than Arsenal exhibited in their wretched sequence between mid-February and mid-April, but there are alarming signs for United. Apart from injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney, which raise doubts about whether either can start against Barcelona this evening, United's form has dipped in recent weeks. The past three matches - away to Blackburn Rovers, Barcelona and Chelsea - have brought three extremely tough assignments, none of which they have won. But even in the previous matches, in which they beat AS Roma and Arsenal in the space of four days at Old Trafford this month, there had also been signs of tiredness about United.

Ferguson, though, would not hear of it yesterday. While he maintains that it was only the rigours of a gruelling campaign that cost United the chance to win the Champions League last season, when they were beaten 3-0 by AC Milan in the second leg of their semi-final, this time he is adamant that fatigue will not be an issue in their two-pronged quest for success, in the Barclays Premier League and in Europe.

“No, I'm not concerned the season is beginning to affect the team,” he said. “We should be sitting here now as champions of this league. Decisions have gone against us, bad decisions. But when we started out in the league in August, our goal was to win it. We signed up to play 38 league matches and we are going to play 38 league matches. And if it means we have to win the last two games to win the league, then so be it.

“Where we are now is, with two games left - it doesn't matter if we've had 50 penalty kicks turned down or 50 given to us, or terrible performances or great performances. We are sitting here with two league games left: a home game against West Ham on Saturday and a game against Wigan away, as well as a semi-final against Barcelona. Disaster!”

Ryan Giggs, who was sitting alongside him, smirked at the panache with which his manager dismissed the implied criticism of the team. Rather than get bogged down in the controversy of Saturday, or by the notion that United were struggling, Ferguson referred constantly to the “marvellous opportunity” for his players. As for the idea that he might somehow have contributed to his team's downfall against Chelsea on Saturday with a questionable team selection - no Patrice Evra, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo or Carlos Tévez in the starting line-up - Ferguson was emphatic.

“Time and time again, I have said this club should have had more success in Europe and I wanted to give them the very best chance,” he said. “It was a very easy team to pick on Saturday.”

Tiredness does appear to be a concern for United, with Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Michael Carrick and Hargreaves participating only in light training yesterday in what was thought to be a precaution against minor ailments, but Ferdinand expects his team-mates to summon whatever energy is needed in pursuit of their goals.

“When this stage of the season rolls around, you have to go the extra mile if you want to pick up the trophies,” the defender said. “You've worked hard all season. Now is the time to roll up your sleeves and become a man.”

One slip away

Roy Keane and Paul Scholes missed out on Manchester United's Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 because of suspension after being booked in the semi-finals and, for three United players, that bitter-sweet sensation may lie ahead.

Patrice Evra, Owen Hargreaves and Nani are one yellow card away from a ban, but Evra said: “If I need to get booked in the last minute and we win, I will take a booking.” Three Barcelona players - Gabriel Milito, Yaya Touré and Lionel Messi - are in the same position.