Sir Alex Ferguson refused to rule his team out of the title running despite dropping two points at home to Leeds. Paul Scholes opened the scoring for the defending champions but Alan Smith equalised - leaving Arsenal well clear as they triumphed 2-1 at Chelsea.
"Seven points is a lot but it is not insurmountable," said Ferguson, who lost Mikael Silvestre to a bad injury.
"This side is capable of many things. It has ability, desire and experience and I wouldn't put it against them."
But Ferguson warned: "We will have to perform far better than we did today if we are going to catch them - we have put ourselves in a really difficult position."
Smith was the scourge of Old Trafford - scoring the priceless leveller and also damaging Silvestre's ankle in a firm but fair challenge.
The French defender is now extremely doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League trip to Porto.
Gary Neville also picked up his fifth booking of the season - incurring a one-match ban which will be added on to the suspension he received for headbutting Steve McManaman.
Ferguson will not want to lose experienced defenders - particularly at a time when his team is conceding goals like Smith's.
"We can't give away goals like that," said Ferguson.
"We worked hard for the lead and we shouldn't have lost it so quickly."
MMIX
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