LEAGUE CUP - SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG - Manchester Utd (1) v Manchester City (2) (Kick-off: 8pm On TV: Sky Sports 1) :ALEX FERGUSON'S insistence that the behaviour of his players "has always been perfect" has been undermined by the news that Rio Ferdinand is facing a three-match ban for violent conduct.
The defender could miss the second leg of Manchester United’s League Cup semi-final against Manchester City tonight, the match against Arsenal on Sunday and the home game against Portsmouth the following weekend after knocking the Hull City striker Craig Fagan to the ground during the 4-0 victory last Saturday.
Ferguson has banned Sky’s cameras from his press conferences after he learned that the television company – at the Football Association’s request – produced the pictures that have led to Ferdinand being charged. The United manager also believes Sky is partly to blame for the bad feeling surrounding tonight’s match, after repeatedly broadcasting pictures of Gary Neville showing his middle finger to Carlos Tevez in last week’s first leg.
Ferdinand’s charge came a few hours after Ferguson said his players’ behaviour “has always been perfect” and expressed irritation about the way their conduct was under scrutiny this week. The FA has written to United and City, after being contacted by Greater Manchester police, to stress the importance of the players not adding to an incendiary atmosphere.
Ferguson rounded on Sky’s reporter. “You try to promote yourself – just leave the football to us, okay?” he said.
“You come out with some nonsense. I don’t pay any attention to a lot of that. The players’ behaviour has always been perfect. They play within the rules of the game. We’ve never had any issues with big games.”
Ferguson’s defence of his players omits previous incidents in Manchester derbies, including Roy Keane’s infamous challenge on Alfie Haaland and Neville being sent off for headbutting Steve McManaman.
The United manager said: “I don’t know why you are going on about it. Look at the record. Unbelievable!”
United yesterday announced a €11.5 million deal to sign the 20-year-old Fulham centre-half Chris Smalling at the end of the season.
Arsenal had made the first approach for a player who has made only two Premier League appearances. Smalling’s move is subject to a medical and personal terms and Arsenal will not give up. “As long as the player has not signed anywhere, it is not the end of it,” said Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger. Smalling is regarded by United as a successor to Nemanja Vidic, who wants to leave.
If Ferdinand pleads not guilty to his charge, he could face City, with a hearing to be held tomorrow, but if the FA considers the appeal to be “frivolous” and finds him guilty, the ban could be extended to a fourth game, at Aston Villa on February 10th. Ferdinand has until 6pm today to respond.
The match against City has been preceded by Tevez calling Neville a “moron” and a “boot-licker” on Argentinian radio.
“There isn’t a problem with Carlos or any of the other players,” Roberto Mancini, the City manager, said. “Everybody must stay calm and think only about the match. We must stay calm because it’s important we think about the game.”
Mancini went on to quote “the fantastic Oasis”, saying his message was “don’t look back in anger”.
However, the City chief executive Garry Cook’s comments that his employers will supersede United as England’s biggest club and that it is a case of “when not if” they will reach Wembley have not helped to calm the situation.
“Sometimes people can get carried away,” Ferguson said.
City defender Kolo Toure will be checked this morning after flying back from Angola in the wake of Ivory Coast’s surprise quarter-final exit to Algeria.
“It could be a problem because Kolo only played three days ago,” said Mancini.
Guardian Service
