French international goalkeeper Fabien Barthez said Monday that he would stick with Manchester United despite being dropped to number three choice 'keeper at the English champions.

The erratic Frenchman was axed towards the end of last season and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has since brought in American stopper Tim Howard, with Northern Ireland's Roy Carroll as Howard's deputy.

But Barthez said that the loss in form was all part of football.

"I don't see myself leaving Manchester," the World Cup winner told Europe 1 radio.

"We all go through this type of situation. You mustn't panic but continue to work," said the former Marseille and Monaco player who described his relationship with Ferguson as "perfect."

"It's true that it's the first time that this has happened to me, but it happens at a good time. I'm 32 years old and I think I would have reacted differently if I was 26 or 28. Now I have enough experience to tell myself I'm lucky to do the type of job I do. It's the ups and downs of football," said Barthez, who became a further for the first time in June.

Barthez has been selected for defending champions France's Euro 2004 qualifiers at home to Cyprus on September 6 and Slovenia away four days later.