United are seven points clear, but having been eight points adrift with eight games to go last season, the champions are confident they can haul in their rivals.

"It could also be 12 [at some stage] but this doesn't change [anything]. When we arrive at the end of February, the gap will be very, very small," he said.

"In every championship, never has one team won a title in January. We should fight until April. If they have seven, eight, nine points in April it could be difficult. But in this moment we have a big chance."