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Vidic: City pain an incentive for United

Nemanja Vidic believes increased firepower has made the difference this season © Getty Images

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Nemanja Vidic says Manchester United are taking nothing for granted in the Premier League title race after the dramatic manner of Manchester City's victory last season.

United hold a 15-point lead at the top of the table with just eight games remaining, but having conceded an eight-point advantage with just six games to play last time around Sir Alex Ferguson's side will remain focused until they finish the job.

Vidic, 31, was a frustrated bystander due to injury last season and he says the memory of City's comeback is an incentive for United to stay sharp in the run-in.

"You are never sure until you have the trophy in your hands," Vidic said. "I do think about last season. It is still fresh. If we hadn't experienced that people would be saying it is already done. But that kind of thing keeps you sharp.

"It is good for the team and the players because we don't want that to happen again. It was bad last year but this year it is working for us."

Relentless form has seen United build an insurmountable lead on their rivals, but Vidic is still finding it difficult to believe United could have established such a position of strength with nine games of the campaign remaining.

"We didn't expect this situation," he said. "No-one expected did. We are happy with it but we still have big games to play.

"We have to play [Manchester] City, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Brom, Swansea. They are teams who can hurt you. They are tough games. Teams at the top and some who are fighting relegation. We just have to keep winning."

Pressed for the difference between last season and this, Vidic points to an increased goals output.

He also does not underestimate the strength of a squad that would allow Sir Alex Ferguson to field two entirely different teams at Sunderland on Saturday and Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday should he so wish.

"It is hard to say what the difference has been," Vidic said. "We have scored a lot of goals. We won more games than any other Manchester United team in the Premier League. That is a statistic you have to respect.

"Also, if you look at the players who have played this season, everyone has their role. The manager can rest players. Some have come back from their national teams and now we have two games in three days, but we can still choose two different teams to keep things fresh."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.