SIR ALEX Ferguson believes the sweet smell of success is washing all over Manchester United.

He's watched with pride as his side have taken the high ground - and said: "We have got to a level where you can smell that the team is right together.

"People are familiar with one another - their families get to know each other - they understand each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"The longer they are with each other, they develop these relationships and you can see that blends the team together."

With Chelsea struggling with injuries, Fergie feels his side are now getting the rub of the green.

He said: "That is maybe Chelsea's luck changing.

"They have had some incredible fortune the last couple of years, scoring in the last minute against Wigan and Tottenham last season.

"Chelsea also scored in the first two minutes against us, things like that. I don't think we've had any real luck in games.

"In terms of injuries, we started out without the full squad. Gabriel Heinze was not fit, we've had problems with Gary Neville, then Ji-Sung Park and Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer) got injuries.

"But we have coped really well because the squad has got stronger and more experienced.

"So, when players are out, we are handling it much better."

Ferguson is impressed with his team's disciplinary record. He said: "It has been terrific. Basically, we are concentrating on the game all the time.

"We're not surrounding referees like other clubs do. There is a good core of natural discipline because we don't have any players who go over the top."

On-loan striker Henrik Larsson is set to make his debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday at Old Trafford and Fergie added: "This is a guy that has been at the top end of striking for over a decade.

"He virtually won the European Cup for Barcelona against Arsenal by coming on and making two goals."