Patrice Evra believes Manchester United have done more than enough to silence the critics as they look to wrap up their 20th top-flight title on Monday.
Victory over Aston Villa will ensure the title pennant is flying over Old Trafford once more and Evra insists it simply underlines the enduring strength of the world-famous club.
"People want to see Manchester United fall down," said Evra. "In the seven years I have been here, it has always been the same.
"When you lose one game it is like the end of the world. If you don't accept this pressure, you can't play for Manchester United.
"It is right that in the beginning of the season, we were not doing well, we always had to come back. But we did keep winning. People forget we are a marathon team. The league is not a sprint."
Evra is delighted to have wrestled the title away from their city rivals, while conceding that the pain of losing their crown on the final day of last season still rankles.
"Everyone said City were better than us, that they had played the best football," he added.
"I admit we didn't play well. But in the end we finished on the same points.
"In my last interview I said if Manchester United got the consistency back, maybe we can win the league by 10 points.
"For the moment I am wrong. It is 13 points. I didn't say it to make the fans, or the staff or my team-mates happy. I said it because it is the truth."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits that losing the Premier League title to Manchester City last season provided added incentive to get it back.
If United defeat relegation-threatened Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday evening, it will clinch a record 20th championship following City's loss at Tottenham on Sunday.
"We had a big job to do," said Ferguson. "The way we lost it, and the fact it was City, gave us an incentive.
"You have to admire the focus we have shown this season. We are resilient and the consistency has been good.
"Like all the previous teams, they never give in. That is a fact.
"It is the history of the club more than anything. Once they have been here two or three years, the players buy into it. These are the qualities that have helped them to be where they are just now."
The Scot wants his side to eclipse the Premier League points record of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, who amassed 95 points in 2005.
"There won't be any slacking off," said Ferguson, whose side have 81 points with five matches remaining.
"The record is not beyond us at all. Can Manchester United win five games in a row? How many times have we done that?"
Manchester United play host to Aston Villa on Monday aiming to clinch a record 20th title.
United winger Ashley Young will miss the Premier League clash after being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with an ankle injury.
Paul Scholes (knee) is also out, although boss Sir Alex Ferguson reported no fresh injury concerns after Wednesday's bruising encounter at West Ham.
A victory would give United their 13th title since Ferguson took charge following Manchester City's defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert hopes to have in-form forward Gabriel Agbonlahor available at Old Trafford.
The striker missed last week's draw with Fulham having suffered a groin injury in Villa's win at Stoke. However, he has returned training and should be in contention to feature against United.
Young midfielder Gary Gardner is also back in training after missing most of the season with knee ligament damage but is some way short of a return, while Chris Herd, Marc Albrighton (both foot) and Richard Dunne (groin) are still out.
A surprise win for Villa would mean that both Reading and QPR are relegated.
Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that he wants Rio Ferdinand to stay at Manchester United after it was confirmed that the defender has been handed a testimonial.
Ferdinand, who moved to Old Trafford from Leeds for £29.1m in 2002, is due to be out of contract this year and there has been speculation he could move abroad.
However, with his testimonial game expected to take place at the start of the next season - no opponent has yet been confirmed - it appears Ferdinand could be ready to commit himself to United for another year.
"I have spoken to Rio," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I would imagine the best thing for him would be to stay but at this moment in time he is more concerned about getting an opponent for his testimonial game.
"But we want him to stay and I am sure his representatives will be talking about that with (chief executive) David (Gill)."
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United would face competition from Bayern Munich if they decide to step up their interest in Robert Lewandowski.
Poland striker Lewandowski has been linked with a big-money move away from Borussia Dortmund in the summer after catching the eye of many clubs with his performances in the Bundesliga over the past couple of seasons.
Bayern are thought to be the frontrunners but there is also understood to be interest from the Premier League and United have been monitoring his situation.
Ferguson is already blessed with attacking options at Old Trafford and says it would be difficult to fit another centre-forward into his squad.
However, he is not ruling out a major summer signing and insists much will depend on whether the Red Devils land the Premier League title.
Ferguson said: "Big signings? You are normally talking about forwards but it's complicated enough as it is with the forwards I've got."
On his interest in Lewandowski, he added: "Yeah, but Bayern Munich are strong with that too.
"We just have to wait and see where we are in terms of if we win the league. Then it may be different."
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