Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the few “untouchables” left in the English Premier League, if not the only one.

His side is out of the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League – yet not one voice was raised in question.

Arsene Wenger and Andre Villas-Boas must envy that record of Fergie’s if nothing else.

However, Fergie’s straight talking style (remember: Suarez must never play for Liverpool again) sometimes has the none-too-pleasant effect of a boomerang on his own team.

Like his statement today that he missed a trick in failing to sign England goalkeeper Joe Hart for a bargain 100,000 pounds ($158,100) earlier in his career.

Hart, now 24, joined wealthy rivals Manchester City in 2006 from League Two (fourth division) Shrewsbury Town after United passed up the opportunity to secure his services.

"I could have bought Joe Hart for 100,000 so we all make mistakes," Ferguson told BBC radio in an interview to be broadcast later on Monday.

Given that one of weak spots in United’s title defence has been David De Gea in goal – one football expert in the British media suggesting him more likely to break out into song or poetry than gather the ball from a corner.

The pressure that Ferguson’s statement is going to put on an already under-pressure De Gea is not minuscule – given that Hart is City’s ace in the pack.

"If you look at the England goalkeeper situation for the last 20 years, I would think he's easily the best," added the Scot who signed the now-retired Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar in 2005.

United have struggled to find a replacement since Van der Sar retired last year while Hart has been a rock in goal for Premier League leaders City.

However, David De Gea will have to learn that playing under Sir Alex is never going to be a case of being handled with kid gloves.

The best compliment he could extract from his manager came after the Ajax game last week when Sir Alex said: "De Gea made a good save in the first half," said Sir Alex. "He was confident. He was assured and controlled his penalty box very well. We are very pleased with him."

Those thoughts were echoed by Jonny Evans, who enjoyed another impressive performance ahead of the young keeper in defence.

"We all see what he's like in training," Evans told MUTV. "He has great reflexes, great spring and gets to some things you think other keepers might not be able to get to. It is a real plus in his game."

Ferguson, who turned 70 in December, has been in the hot seat at Old Trafford for 25 years during which he has won 12 top-flight titles, two European Cups and five FA Cups. He has spoken of staying on for another three years.

"I think you always want to go out on a winning note," he told the BBC.

"Hopefully we can do that. I don't know how long I can last now but if my health stays up I don't think another two or three years would harm me."