Gary Neville has revealed Manchester United have put Premiership glory ahead of European success this season. United have suffered two disappointing third-placed finishes since they last clinched the title, in 2003, and Roman Abramovich's vast financial input at Chelsea has made United an outside bet to end that barren run this term.
Neville and his team-mates have started the campaign as though they aim to prove the critics wrong, following up a 3-0 Champions League qualifying win over Debrecen by securing maximum points from their opening domestic encounter at Everton last week.
And although the Champions League remains an important aspect of United's planning, particularly after consecutive early exits in the first knockout phase, Neville has warned today's Old Trafford visitors, Aston Villa, it is on the home front where the club really intend to make their mark.
"There is no doubt about it," said the England full back. "Our priority has to be winning the Premiership this season. Every game has to be treated like it is a championship moment. We have to believe every time we get an opportunity in every game it is a chance that will go some way towards winning the championship, or at the very least putting ourselves in a position to win it."
With Chelsea meeting Arsenal tomorrow, the need for United to collect three points against Villa and establish an early advantage over at least one of their main rivals is obvious.
Neville needs no reminding United spent all of last season on an unsuccessful quest to claw back a points deficit on the London duo, a task ultimately made impossible because Chelsea lost only one game on their way to a first championship in 50 years.
Arsenal did not lose at all the year before, leaving the United camp in no doubt the margin for error is virtually non-existent if they are to add a ninth Premier League crown to their collection.
"I don't think we are walking a tightrope," said Neville. "You would put yourself into a nervous position if you started thinking you couldn't lose each individual game. You have to concentrate on the positives and we have enough good players to win any game."
Happily for United, their chances of success will be aided significantly by Ruud van Nistelrooy's return to form. After scoring just 16 times in his previous, injury-blighted, campaign, the prolific Dutchman has already found the net twice this term and will be hopeful of adding to his tally against Villa.
Although there was huge discussion over Van Nistelrooy's contribution during the recent Far East tour, no one at United was getting too worried, with Neville insisting it was a matter of time before the former PSV Eindhoven front man returned to his usual deadly ways.
"Ruud is one of the best goalscorers in Europe and one of the best goalscorers this club has ever had in terms of his ratio of goals per game," said the 30-year-old defender. "There was no concern here about Ruud van Nistelrooy."
Manager Alex Ferguson is relieved Alan Smith emerged from the wrangle over his England omission with his reputation intact. The United forward was condemned by Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick earlier this week after he opted to play for the United reserve side at Bolton in preference to linking up with the England team for their troubled trip to Copenhagen.
At the time, Barwick was unaware Smith's omission was a direct result of talks between United and England coaching staff, a situation which became confused when Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed he had considered naming the former Leeds man as a replacement for injured forward Andy Johnson.
Both Eriksson and United attempted to defuse the row with separate comments about the matter, both of which made it clear Smith still had an international future, something Barwick had questioned. With the matter resolved, Smith is likely to figure in United's squad to face Villa.
Meanwhile, manager Rafael Benitez confirmed yesterday Liverpool are weighing up bids from Aston Villa and Olympique Lyon for striker Milan Baros. "We have a good offer from Olympique Lyon and another one from Aston Villa and we must analyse both and while we analyse he will be playing with us," Benitez said.
Benitez also denied reports in the Spanish press Liverpool had made an offer to Real Madrid for their former striker Michael Owen. He insisted he was happy to carry on with his current group of forwards and said his top target was a central defender.
"I have seen the Spanish press and I can say we have not made an offer for Owen," he added. "We have not made an offer."
Aston Villa winger Nolberto Solano has revealed he would jump at the chance of a move to Liverpool. Solano has been linked with the European Cup holders, potentially as a makeweight in the deal for Baros.
Villa are understood to have offered £6 million for Baros, plus a further £500,000 in add-ons as manager David O'Leary is desperate to strengthen his strikeforce. "It is fantastic when a big club comes in for a player," said Solano. "Ask any player in the world if they would love to play for a big club, and everyone would love to."
