Alex Ferguson has assured Deportivo La Coruna's Diego Tristan that he will not be targeted tonight because of his reckless challenge on David Beckham.
Alex Ferguson has assured Deportivo La Coruna's Diego Tristan that he will not be targeted tonight because of his reckless challenge on David Beckham.<
Ferguson described Tristan's late tackle in stoppage-time as "terrible" and felt he should have been shown a red card rather than a yellow.
Tristan has since apologised for the foul and Ferguson feels the incident is now closed.
He claims there will be no scores to settle when Deportivo face Manchester United at Old Trafford for the Champions League quarter-final return.
"I don't think Diego Tristan is a player like that," said the United manager.
"I think it was a rash moment, but we were happy that David didn't suffer any serious injury.
"I think the boy has apologised and that's the noble thing to do. He will find no problem at all from Manchester United."
Beckham has recovered from his ankle knock to boost United, who are odds-on favourites to reach the semi-finals following their magnificent 2-0 win in the Riazor last week.
The record books point to nothing else and United have lost just six of their 91 European home ties dating way back to 1956.
Of even less comfort to Depor is the fact that none of those six defeats was by more than one goal.
Manchester United(probable): Barthez, Silvestre, Johnsen, Blanc, G Neville, Giggs, Veron, Butt, Beckham, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy.