Alex Ferguson believes his new generation of Manchester United players have proved they have what it takes to succeed.
United are top of the Premiership and, captained for the first time by Wayne Rooney, brushed aside FC Copenhagen 3-0 to reach the very brink of the Champions League knock-out phase.
It is in sharp contrast to the travails in the first half of last season when United failed to make it into the last 16 of the Champions League and allowed Chelsea too great a head start on the domestic front. Ferguson said: 'I think our players have proved themselves.
'They have grown up. They don't want any more embarrassments and they played well into the bargain.
'We know exactly all about last year and we are not getting a repeat and that speaks highly for the team and their motivation - and more importantly the expression of their football was really good.'