Man Utd v VfB Stuttgart Old Trafford, 7.45Alex Ferguson is apparently furious with Gary and Phil Neville for doing a television advert that shows them shivering in the Mancunian rain while David Beckham enjoys the sunshine of Madrid.
Ferguson is said to have gone "berserk" because he thinks it highlights the perception of Europe's elite that bugs him the most - that Manchester United are inferior to Real Madrid.
Ferguson's loyalty can only be admired but, as he comes to the end of the Champions League group stages tonight against VfB Stuttgart, few could support his argument that the football at Old Trafford has been comparable to that at the Bernabeu.
Ruud van Nistelrooy said yesterday that there had been times when they "go to sleep" and deep down even Ferguson must know his side need to improve significantly if they are to win the Champions League title for a second time. It will certainly have crossed Ferguson's mind that, because of the structure of Friday's draw, if his side loses tonight and allows the Bundesliga leaders to win Group E, United could find themselves up against Real Madrid in the last 16.
That alone should be the inspiration for United to produce a spirited performance against the team that has inflicted their only defeat in European competition this season - 2-1 away in October. Milan and Juventus have already won their respective groups and Ferguson's men are well aware that, theoretically, they should get an easier draw if they can do likewise. As Mikael Silvestre, one of their most impressive performers this season, said last night: "It's only natural to think if you avoid Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus you will have a better chance of reaching the later stages."
Ferguson has more to consider, however. United, already through to the knock-out stages, host Manchester City in the Premiership on Saturday in their first derby match of the season. With that in mind, the manager is speculating about resting a number of players, including his captain Roy Keane and the goalkeeper Tim Howard.
"I don't know how to approach this game to be honest," said Ferguson, whose new contract will not be ratified until the end of the week. "Right now, you can't be sure who the other winners or the runners-up are going to be. You could win the group, for example, and then get Bayern Munich as one of the runners-up."
About the only certainty is that Paul Scholes, fit again after an operation on a recurrent groin problem, will play for longer than the 20 minutes he managed against Aston Villa and may even start.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand is set to argue that he was denied an opportunity to take a drugs test when he launches his defence against an FA misconduct charge in Bolton next week.
It has emerged that Ferdinand contacted Manchester United officials 90 minutes after he was due to take the test on September 23rd following a series of frantic calls from the club's Carrington training ground when it became apparent the England man had failed to turn up as planned.
Doping controllers were still at Carrington at that time but it is reported they told Ferdinand he could not return to take the test. It is understood the phone call - and the fact the testers were still at Carrington when it was made - will be a major part of the defender's defence.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
MANCHESTER UNITED: Carroll; G Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fortune; P Neville, Butt; Kleberson, Scholes, Giggs; Van Nistelrooy.
STUTTGART: Hildebrand; Hinkel, Meira, Wenzel, Lahm; Vranjes, Soldo, Hleb; Heldt; Kuranyi, Szabics.
Referee: E Poulat (France)
