Ferguson has already achieved a major result ahead of the weekend's action, with Wayne Rooney committing himself to the Old Trafford outfit until 2015.

It hardly seemed a likely outcome before the first hints of a deal became apparent on Thursday evening, by which time supporters had gathered at the player's Prestbury home to demonstrate and claims were being made of discontent in the dressing room.

But now that job is done, Ferguson is keen to turn attention back to his main task, securing results for a team which has drawn five of its eight Premier League games so far and slipped five points adrift of champions Chelsea.

"There is no problem with the players or myself," said Ferguson. "We are doing what is best for Manchester United.

"We have important issues ahead, starting with Stoke City on Sunday.

"We are lagging behind Chelsea and we have to start making up ground quickly.

"We can only do that with everyone on board, with no one jumping ship.

"Then we can push on and see the real Manchester United."

Ferguson believes Rooney has assisted in the process by apologising, both to the Scot and his team-mates for the disruption and upset his damning comments caused earlier in the week.

"It has been a turbulent few days," Ferguson told radio station Key103 with generous understatement.

"We have been hurt by events but Wayne has apologised to me and the players. He will do so with the supporters too.

"I always feel it is a quality in a person when they say they are sorry and realise they have made a mistake. That happens with young people."

Chief executive David Gill played an important role too and feels securing Rooney's services for another five years represents a significant statement of intent.

"We are here to make sure we've got a great team and do what we do off the field by investing in the team and the facilities here," he said.

"I fully understand that in order to have results off the pitch we need a great team on it.

"We've been challenging at the top of the table for years and intend being there for many years to come."