By NEIL CUSTIS
MANCHESTER UNITED will not let Fulham breathe in their FA Cup showdown at Old Trafford on Saturday.
With 11 final victories, United are the competition’s most successful side, but it’s nearly 10 years since they lifted the famous old trophy.
Now Tom Cleverley believes the high-octane football at Old Trafford will help them take another step towards Wembley Way.
Cleverley said: “At home, if we’ve got teams under a lot of pressure, they can struggle if we don’t give them a second to breathe.
“We’ve played some really good stuff — fast, one-touch football.”
United earned Saturday’s home tie with a 1-0 replay victory over West Ham last Wednesday.
With the Red Devils five points clear at the top of the Premier League and facing a below-par Real Madrid in the first knockout round in Europe, there has been talk of a treble.
Those two competitions take priority but United want the FA Cup too.
Cleverley, 23, said of the fourth-round clash with Martin Jol’s men: “It means a lot. Our last FA Cup win was in 2004 and it’s a trophy I want.
“Playing at Wembley is one of the best feelings of your career. I’ve been lucky enough to have played there five or six times but I always want more.
“We’ve got a few players who haven’t won anything in this country yet — like me. So anything we’re involved in, I want to win.”
Cleverley scored in the original third-round tie at West Ham, which ended 2-2 thanks to Robin van Persie’s stunning late equaliser.
It was the young midfielder’s fourth goal of the season after initially struggling to get off the mark for United.
Missed chances for England also meant his lean spell was starting to get to him — but not any more.
He said: “I’ve always had goalscoring as a target.
“I’ve managed to do it out on loan and I was hoping it would just be a matter of time before they came along for United. I hope there are many more to come.
“I’ve got my own target in my head — which I’m going to keep to myself — but it’s something that’s starting to come together in my game now.”
After a bright start which won deserved plaudits, Cleverley saw much of last season disrupted by an ankle injury.
He has fought his way back into a team with no shortage of midfielders and his high-tempo play has become a big ingredient for United.
Cleverley said: “At the start of the season, the first thing I wanted was to be injury-free.
“I want to make as many appearances as I can and help the team win some silverware.”
That was something United didn’t do last year, when the title was snatched from them with the last kick of the season.
Cleverley said: “We’ve got the experience of last year and we know how hurt we were.
“There’s a great team spirit now. There was last year, too, but there’s a good feeling around the place, which is fantastic.
“To me, it just feels like a group of winners.”
