Tevez: I was in awe of United's stars but everyone made me welcome

As he reflected this week on his first three months with the champions, Tevez admitted he wondered how he would be received after his controversial switch from West Ham.

Proud to be red: Tevez revels in life at United as shown by his goal against Chelsea

"When I arrived in the summer I must admit that I had doubts after all that had happened," Tevez told Sportsmail. "In particular I didn't know how the senior players at the club would be with me.

"Yes, I was nervous for the first time in a long time. But from the very first day players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand did all they could to help me. I was amazed.

"These players are the stars and the symbol and image of this great club. In many ways they sum United up.

"United are superb in terms of professionalism. No detail is missed and that is one of the reasons I set the club apart from the others. With players like Giggs and Scholes at its heart the club will not fail."

Tevez's protracted move from West Ham during the summer was, without doubt, the most difficult and controversial transfer ever by United, perhaps by any Premier League club.

Despite his protestations this week that he makes his own decisions — "The owner of Tevez is Tevez" — the involvement of Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian forced English football to examine in uncomfortable detail the prominence of third-party ownership in the modern game.

Three months on and Tevez claims to be unfazed. He would not, however, have sat tight during weeks of ugly negotiations had it not been for one man.

He said: "I am at Manchester United because of Sir Alex Ferguson. He has total confidence in me and he was key to my arrival here.

"I suffered an awful lot in order to leave West Ham but now I am very satisfied with what I did. It was painful and people talked about my reputation but it has been worth it.

"Ferguson is like a master to me, like a teacher. He is always giving me advice and helping my football get to the right level, the next level.

"That is so valuable because when I first came to England at West Ham there was nobody there to do that. Even the best players need help.

"His assistant, Carlos Queiroz, is the one next to the players in training all the time. But Ferguson is in control, make no mistake. I remember after my first goal for United against Chelsea. Ferguson was very emotional with me. But then he just asked me for some more goals!"

Tevez took time to settle when he arrived at West Ham last season. Again his best form was elusive during his early days at Old Trafford. It is coming, however. His winner against Chelsea was followed by the crucial first goal against Wigan last time out.

He, along with many of United's other stars, would appear on the threshold of improvement.

Tevez dismisses suggestions that he and Wayne Rooney are too similar to play together, saying: "He is my type of player and I am very happy he is at my club and not at one of our rivals. People have looked for controversy between us but that's rubbish. Rooney is my friend."

He is convinced United can bring him the medals and titles he craves and is remarkably honest in his assessment of the club's main rivals.

"Chelsea always are a dangerous team but I don't think they will be in the race for the title by the end of this season," he predicted. "The exit of Jose Mourinho and the injuries have damaged them too much to recover. When we played them we were greatly superior and I think that is the way it will be this season.

"Arsenal are more dangerous and I think that, at this moment, they have the best young players in Europe. For me it is not a surprise that they are leading the league table and they are our big rivals this season.

"But I do have a doubt about them. What I don't know is if they are prepared to cope with the pressure that will come during their worst moments of the season. That's what we all have to deal with at some stage. It's hard and their players are very young. We'll see what happens.

"During the first part of the season we were struggling ourselves with injuries and suspensions but I think we are arriving at our perfect point now.

"This is a winning club and we are obliged to win titles. That makes me very motivated and I am sure that we will do it."

Tevez's standing at Old Trafford is already such that Ferguson recently took his 17-year-old brother Miguel on a two-week trial and was impressed enough to offer a two-and-a-half year deal.

The United manager has spoken privately of his desire to build his forward line around Carlos Tevez but the player himself is more modest.

"Today Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the Premier League," said Tevez. "He has the characteristics to be the No 1 in the world.

"Ronaldo is the key to United. He is sensational, our leader on the field."