Turfed out of the Champions League by a Basle side that conceded seven to Bayern Munich last night, beaten 6-1 at home by Manchester City and on the brink of a second early European exit in Bilbao tomorrow night, in isolation those moments point towards a disastrous campaign.

Yet United's current status is that of leaders and favourites to retain their domestic title, even though skipper Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher have been absent since December and injuries seem to have blighted them at every turn.

It is barely credible. But it has long been established United simply do not know when they are beaten. And this term could turn out to be the ultimate example.

"We have done really well to hang in there," said Ferguson.

"That is more or less what we have done no matter what the team has been.

"For instance (tomorrow night), with (Phil) Jones and (Chris) Smalling not available that's a door slamming in the face again.

"But we keep carrying on and it does point to a resilience in the team that is really admirable.

"They have done exceptionally well. It's an achievement in the sense of they're still banging in there in the league.

"Yes, there was the disappointment in the Champions League but we still can win this game tomorrow and I think the players believe that."

United trail 3-2 from the first leg.

Unlike Jones, who has stayed back in Manchester after being laid low by a flu virus, Smalling has travelled to the Basque region of Spain but will not be risked from the start after re-opening a nasty head wound in last week's first-leg defeat.

As he delivered his words this evening, Ferguson's attention was drawn to a series of pictures in the media room at the San Mames Stadium, depicting three of Bilbao's most famous victories.

History matters in this part of the world and, a past visitor with both Dunfermline and Rangers, Ferguson knows all about the statue of legendary forward Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, better known as Pichichi.

Winner of four domestic cup finals with his home town club, Pichichi died at the tragically young age of 29.

It is tradition for new visitors to the stadium to leave flowers in tribute at the base of the statue, something Ferguson pledged United will do tomorrow.

Whether it actually happens is another matter given United were beaten here 5-3 in January 1957, overturning the tie with a 3-0 win at Maine Road three weeks later.

That result is significant given it is one of only two occasions United have overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit - the famous 1984 triumph over Barcelona was the other - which effectively they will have to do tomorrow on account of the three away goals Athletic pocketed.

More pertinently, on the two occasions United have lost the first leg of a European knockout tie on home soil, they have also been beaten in the return, against Bayern Munich in 2001 and AC Milan four years later.

"It's a difficult tie for us," said Ferguson.

"Bilbao have a tremendous advantage now, so it's a challenge - but not one that is beyond us.

"Our record away from home in Europe helps us. We have done really well the last few years away from home but it's going to need a good performance."

On the evidence of last week's game, it will take more than a "good" display.

Ferguson's claim that Athletic ran more than any team has managed at Old Trafford in the last 10 years was not a shock given the visitors' dominance.

And, though they slipped back in the race to claim a place in next season's Champions League by losing to Osasuna on Sunday, in Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, Bilbao have two of many members of their squad that might become attractive targets for bigger teams in the summer.

"There are several players in this present Bilbao team who are going to do well," Ferguson said. "They are young and you can see there is progress in them.

"Life is life. When players do well, they maybe want to move or bigger clubs want to come for them.

"It is difficult to say how a club like Bilbao deals with that situation."