Robson hails no-nonsense Ferguson

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson believes Sir Alex Ferguson's handling of Wayne Rooney's infamous night out last December could turn out to be the inspiration behind another Premier League title.

Ferguson has never explained why Rooney missed the New Year's Eve encounter with Blackburn. Rooney was at Old Trafford to watch United suffer a shock 3-2 defeat and it is thought he was not involved as a punishment for reporting for training earlier that week clearly unfit for work, a legacy of a night out with Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans.

Speaking ahead of the Soccerex European Forum in Manchester next week, Robson said: "The boss isn't interested in one individual. He is interested in the whole group. Not just his first-team squad but all the kids in the youth team and the reserve boys. It was a statement to say he would not stand for that type of behaviour. "

He continued: "He will always clamp down on something like that. When you look at certain managers, you ask whether they would have left Rooney out. They had a million injuries in that game. He is fielding a depleted team anyway and then he says 'I am not having him' and Wayne is left out.

"A lot of managers might have fined him but put him in because it was an important game and they didn't want to slip up. The boss saw the bigger picture."

It is that unity Ferguson manages to create that Robson feels will carry United over the line to a record 20th title this spring.

Manchester City may retake the leadership if they avoid defeat at Stoke on Saturday given United are not in action until they host Fulham on Monday.

But even after their thrilling win over Chelsea, questions were asked about morale in the Blues' camp following Mario Balotelli's half-time exit.

"There has been a little bit of negative publicity; the Tevez saga, Balotelli on a couple of nights out," said Robson.

"Sir Alex always keeps right on top of them and doesn't allow them to happen. He knows the character of the players and if your character is like that, bang, you are out of the club."