Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has paid tribute to the team's efforts in their winning run so far.

Coupled with a busy match schedule which saw the Red Devils take part in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan last December, critics felt United could face problems coping with the fixture pile-up.

But United have proved them wrong, and their 13-game record breaking run without conceding is testimony to the team's belief and determination. Phelan however, insists clubs do not go out with the intention of making records, but rather find themselves in the process of doing so.

"Records are not something you go out to achieve - you find yourself in with a chance of breaking them," he told the club's official website.

"As coaches we are here to service the players. We have ideas and ways of doing things, but mainly we're here to benefit the players and get them fit, focused and ready to play matches.

"We give them a little direction and they go and produce the football and take the achievements - it's as simple as that."

Phelan recognised the team has yet to settle on a permanent back four due to injuries and suspensions to players, and he praised the new crop of youngsters stepping up into first-team action.

He said: "Yes, even though we've had such a good defensive record, we've had several injuries in that area, so we've coped very well.

"We've given debuts to a few players this year and managed to maintain the sequence of results.

"For new players such as Richard Eckersley, Fabio, Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson to come in and complement the team says a lot about the squad of players we have here."

With United still in the running for five trophies this season, Phelan feels there is a realistic chance of the team doing so.

Phelan explained: "Well, it's never been done!

"But we are always challenged to produce football of the highest quality, to produce outstanding players, to entertain - that's our remit as a football club.

"From coaches to players, there is a responsibility to deliver all those things and I think we do most of the time."