Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to play down talk of his side winning the quintuple after their Carling Cup final win over Spurs.

They have won the Club World Cup as well and are still chasing the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Ferguson said: "I'm not getting carried away with it, only the media will. We will keep our feet on the ground.

"We could go to Fulham in the FA Cup, the ball comes off someone's backside and we are out of that one."

But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes there is no reason why United cannot win an unprecedented haul of trophies.

"They have got a big chance - they are the team to beat for sure," said Redknapp after their 4-1 defeat on penalties.

"They have a fantastic squad. They have one cup already, it looks as if the league is going their way and you wouldn't bet against them in the Champions League and the FA Cup."

Goalkeeper Ben Foster was the United hero, making two fine saves during the game and then saving Jamie O'Hara's penalty in the shoot-out.

And Ferguson is confident Foster can go on to cement his place as the number one stopper at the club.

"The future is his," added the Scot. "The present belongs to Edwin Van der Sar, that is obvious, but that performance can only strengthen my opinion of Ben's ability and his own self-confidence.

"He is a strong character - he has had to be. He has had to come through two cruciate ligament injuries and you have to have something inside you to do that."

United's assistant manager Mike Phelan paid tribute to Foster and his team-mates for keeping alive the club's hunt for an unprecedented quintuple.

"In the end it came down to the goalkeepers and our one made a great save," said Phelan.

"Ben has been unlucky with the odd injury this season, but we know he's got quality and he can be a Man Utd goalkeeper.

"It is important he gets games for us and what happened today can only help us.

"It was a hard game and both sets of players were shattered at the end, they were cramping but they kept going and it's a good feeling when you win on penalties."

Foster, playing in only his seventh game of the season for United, was delighted to play his part in the win.

"I felt good from the start. I haven't played many games which isn't great, but it was great of the gaffer to give me a chance today," said Foster.

"All the lads are heroes, they had to knock in the penalties and they looked super-cool, they all looked like they were going to score.

"If they hadn't, we wouldn't have our medals. I'm delighted we managed to win."

Ever the model professional, Ryan Giggs insisted United's focus will not be diluted with two pieces of silverware already won this season.

The Reds added the Carling Cup to the Club World Cup with a penalty shootout over Tottenham, but Giggs was quick to play down talk of an unprecedented five-trophy Quintuple.

"There's a long way to go in all the trophies," the veteran told Sky Sports. "We've just got to keep the same desire, play as well as we have done. We've played better than we did today, but we won so that's what it's all about."

The Welshman did admit, however, that victory at Wembley can prolong the feelgood factor to propel United through the remainder of a congested season.

"It's a cup final so obviously we wanted to win it, and then kick on from there really," said the 35-year-old. "That's what we did with the Club World Cup, so hopefully we can show the same form after winning this."

Having emerged from 120 sapping minutes on a heavy pitch with the Carling Cup in tow, United's players delighted the coaching staff with their stamina and resolve at Wembley Stadium.

Assistant manager Mick Phelan was impressed to see the Reds overcome reigning cup holders Tottenham, and says the players reaped the rewards of their hard yards.

"This was a hard game," he told BBC Sport. "I don't think the pitch helped, it was heavy, but that's the way it goes sometimes. You have to go through that and we did.

"It's difficult. It's emotion and everything else. The supporters will you on. We wanted to win, they wanted to win and it's important you try to keep going. We're on the touchline urging them to keep running, and it's a credit to them that they kept going.

"I thought both teams kept at it. There was cramp in both camps at the end there. To go to penalties is the nature of the game, but we're happy we've won it."

With two major trophies won, there are still three more up for grabs. Nobody in the United camp is getting carried away, however, and Phelan somewhat understatedly said: "We're in the running for a good season if we carry on like this."

Goalkeeper Ben Foster was thankful to Sir Alex Ferguson for giving him the chance to become United's Wembley hero.

The England international, making just his seventh club appearance, made a vital save from Tottenham's Aaron Lennon in normal time before saving Jamie O'Hara's effort in the trophy-clinching penalty shootout.

"The Gaffer's been very brave today," Foster told MUTV. "He could've just put the usuals in and it could have been a bit easier for us, but he's kept faith with the young lads all the way through.

"I thought it went well considering I haven't played many games this season. I always go out there and try to be confident with the things I feel I'm best at. I've got to say a massive thanks to him and thankfully we've won the trophy for him as well."

Foster was in modest mood after his role in the Reds' shootout triumph, preferring to salute the unwavering nerve of Messrs Giggs, Tevez, Ronaldo and Anderson, who all successfully converted their kicks in a 4-1 win.

"As a goalkeeper there's not too much pressure, to be honest with you," he said. "You've got to stand there and hopefully guess the right way, so it's win-win really.

"The pressure's on the lads out there. Our lads were fantastic with their penalties, they put them away with conviction and never looked like missing them."

Sir Alex Ferguson praised his cool, confident and capable players after their prowess at penalties won his third League Cup as United manager.

Spot-kicks seemed inevitable when Cristiano Ronaldo crashed a shot against the post in the final seconds of normal time; tired opponents Tottenham seemed content to play out the extra 30 minutes, bar one attack when Ben Foster saved from Darren Bent with his feet. But Foster's best moment was still to come - stopping Jamie O'Hara's penalty for Spurs.

"Ben Foster made a fantastic first save which gave us a big lift," said Sir Alex. "He's so quick, brave and strong. I think he'll be England's next goalkeeper for many years.

"And while he had a great day, our players took their penalties very confidently."

Appropriately for St David's Day, it was the Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs who converted the first penalty in off the post. It followed his fine extra-time shift in central midfield, as a substitute for young Darron Gibson who had started and completed the 90 minutes.

"We had the experience of Scholes and Ferdinand, and then Giggs in extra-time and they didn't panic," said Sir Alex, assessing the important role of his senior players.

"Vidic also came on and stabilised the team. That's what experienced players do."

Much of the pre-match focus was on the young players to whom Sir Alex had promised a place in the starting line-up - especially Gibson and Danny Welbeck; less so Jonny Evans who, according to the boss, has already "proved himself time and time again."

"When I took Danny off ten minutes into the second half, I said to him, 'You can be proud of your first final.' It will give him the drive and the incentive to play in more," said Sir Alex.

The manager was clearly proud that his policy of playing young players in every round of the Carling Cup had paid off handsomely.

"The end-product you always hope for is to win the competition. It's great for the young players because they've experienced something that young players seldom get the opportunity to do."

While Sir Alex enjoyed collecting his latest trophy - his 24th as Reds boss, even if you exclude his Community Shields - his thoughts are already turning to the next league game, away to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

"To be honest, I could have done without that extra time and I expect Tottenham will be saying the same because we've both got tough games on Wednesday.

"I'll have to freshen up, obviously, because the league and also the Champions League are still the priorities.

"Newcastle will be a very tough game for us. I love the atmosphere of that ground, they've got great support up there. We'll have to make sure we're ready, energised and fresh for that one."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits that Carling cup success on the back of Liverpool's slip-up in the Premier League made his weekend all the more sweet.

United defeated Tottenham 4-1 on penalties at Wembley on Sunday to secure their second piece of silverware of the season following December's Fifa Club World Cup glory.

The Red Devils, who are well placed in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, have their eyes on an unprecedented quintuple as they also look certain to retain their Premier League title.

Rivals Liverpool slumped to defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday to leave United seven points clear, with a game in hand, and Ferguson - who takes his side to Newcastle on Wednesday - confesses that a cup win was the icing on the cake on a memorable weekend.

"It (winning the cup) makes it a good weekend, in the sense that one of your opponents has dropped points," the Scot told Sky Sports.

"I don't think anyone is any different. When one of your opponents drops points you are delighted. It is a horrible game like that.

"But we could drop points on Wednesday and our opponents could win their games. Who knows?"

Ferguson, who has now lifted the League Cup on three occasions, recognises United were not at their best against Tottenham, but believes a never-say-die attitude proved decisive.

"Every time we get a piece of silver it adds to the history of the club, and today it was proved that cup finals are not easy," he added.

"We were not at our best today and Tottenham probably had the better chances in the match.

"But we kept going. I think that is a quality, I've no doubt about that."