United are 15 points clear of nearest rivals Arsenal with only 13 games to play.

It has led to claims that United's runaway lead signals a lack of real quality among their rivals.

But Ferguson insisted the real reason was being able to field a settled side, unlike many of his challengers.

"What you are finding is that our team has stayed together and so there's a consistency that the other teams are still searching for."

Ferguson said he was genuinely surprised to have such a healthy cushion in the domestic quest for honours, ahead of the resumption of the Champions League next week.

He added: "We've had some help with other teams cutting the throats of each other in the last few weeks, but we didn't expect to be in this position."

Manchester United chairman Roland Smith, meanwhile, is to remain at the club until March 2002.