Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has delivered a scathing verdict on his former manager Alex Ferguson by insisting his "tactical prowess is negligible".
Bosnich, speaking ahead of today's game with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, claimed "if you have a fantastic horse, the jockey doesn't have to be great".
The Australian, who infamously fell out with Ferguson leading to him being allowed to join Chelsea last season - admits the United manager is superb at spotting and motivating players.
But while he can hardly quibble with a tremendous success rate over 15 years, he still described the Scotsman as an "old-fashioned manager" who was not nearly the equal of former Australia manager Terry Venables.
Bosnich will be on the sidelines when United visit Stamford Bridge, finding himself ranked as third-choice goalkeeper after injury cruelly intervened earlier this season just when he was making his mark.
Bosnich has previously refused to criticise Ferguson despite admitting he was "forced out" of Old Trafford. Now, he admits that "behind closed doors", his relationship with the United boss was actually just as bad as everyone thought it was.
"Alex and I had a long history together," he told Chelsea TV.
Asked to compare Ferguson to his current boss, Claudio Ranieri, Bosnich was not exactly flattering. "Claudio has been brought up in a different footballing environment. Alex Ferguson is basically an old-fashioned manager," he said.
"His tactical prowess is negligible. What he can do is spot a player a mile away and motivate people very well. His motivational techniques - right or wrong - over the past 13 years have proved to be successful and he does pick the best players.
"He also has the might of Manchester United behind him. If you have a fantastic horse, the jockey doesn't have to be great."
With David Beckham, Roy Keane and defender Ronny Johnsen missing through injury, Ferguson will not want to take too many risks today four days before the vital Champions' League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen, nor will he want to give up the chase for a fourth successive Premiership title.
Juan Sebastian Veron, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Fabien Barthez have all had treatment - van Nistelrooy on a groin injury, Veron with an Achilles problem that has restricted him to 73 minutes of the last four games and Barthez a knee injury which caused him to miss training with France prior to their friendly with Russia in midweek in which he played.
Wes Brown is in the squad despite missing England under-21s 1-0 defeat by Portugal on Tuesday.
Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro faces a fitness test ahead of today's game. Babayaro is hoping to return to the side after a thigh injury, especially with Graeme Le Saux ruled out with a calf problem.
Chelsea v Manchester Utd
Live on Sky Sports 1, 12.0
