Eric Cantona says Alex Ferguson is far from finished

LOVE-IN ... Eric Cantona and boss Alex Ferguson

ERIC CANTONA has warned that Alex Ferguson is stronger than ever and ready to fight off the new challenge to his dominance of English football.

Manchester United boss Fergie has seen bitter rivals City storm five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Ferguson turns 70 on New Year's Eve and has served 25 years in the Old Trafford hotseat.

But United legend Cantona says his old boss can still slug it out with City chief Roberto Mancini.

Cantona said: "Season after season he gets stronger and stronger.

"Even though he is getting older every year he still has the energy of a young man."

United are struggling for form, while a rampant City thumped them 6-1 at Old Trafford last month.

But Cantona warned Ferguson is the master in these positions. He said: "Sir Alex is a very strong man with a lot of personality. He's one of the greatest managers in the world.

"I like the way he handles situations. Sometimes you have a bad adventure, you don't have a wonderful life every day.

"You might lose a few games in a row or a very important game, but he is able to handle it.

"And he looks at how he can use the situation to be even stronger the next day. He uses his experience to do so."

Jose Mourinho is one of the few bosses to get the better of Fergie — winning back-to-back titles with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006.

But the current Real Madrid coach declared: "I think I met him in 2004 and we are now in 2011 and I think he is younger. He is younger as a man and as a coach.

"That's why I see him for many years in the job. He's unique, absolutely unique.

"We can't even imagine when he stops, so I am more than ready to see 25, 26, 27 years and so on.

"He is unbelievable. I think he has everything, that's why he's one of the best and has been for many years.

"In the modern game at the highest level it is really difficult to survive in the same chair, so it is absolutely incredible what he is doing."

United's 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday means they have won all four games since losing to City without conceding.

They previously beat Aldershot in the Carling Cup 3-0, Everton 1-0 and Otelul Galati 2-0. The performances, with the exception of Aldershot, have been unconvincing.

But captain Nemanja Vidic is happy that defensively they seem to be finding their feet again.

He teamed back up with Rio Ferdinand again on Saturday for the first time since August.

Afterwards Vidic jumped to the defence of Ferdinand, 33 today, amid claims his best days are behind him.

Vidic said: "Sometimes when you have been at the top a long time like Rio has, people judge you on your age and are waiting for one bad game to say he is finished.

"What he did today is the perfect way to show he is not finished.

"He showed everyone that he still has the quality and ability to play at the top level."