I WAS EXPECTING AN OGRE

From the MEN:

“I have asked him in the past for advice on players and a couple of times whether players were available on loan.

“I must admit, the first time I called, his reputation had gone before him and I was expecting an ogre. But he was charm itself on the phone and couldn't do enough to help and that was the case every time I phoned. He was so polite and helpful.

“He is a very active member of the League Managers' Association and always at the end of a phone. Anybody could phone him up and he would always give advice.

“Any manager would love to spend time with him and I have been fortunate on a number of occasions to do that. He has been an inspiration for an awful lot of managers.

“I'm proud that we are hosting them at the top level. We have all worked hard to be here but I must admit this one in particular means more to me. In my heart, it is special.

“I was blessed with nine years at Manchester United. On my first day at the club, Tommy Docherty told me that any move from Man United was a move down and I fully subscribe to that view.

“We will be looking to protect ourselves but also go forward because, if you go into a game looking just to respond, then inevitably that is all you will do.

“We are looking just to have a go. It would be dreadful if the players came off at the end thinking they hadn't given a great deal of themselves.

“I'll be as intrigued as everyone to see how we stand up against United. But this game will not decide our Premiership future. The chances are that United will beat most teams.

“In a way, that could make us more carefree, it could give us a tendency to play our own game. If we go in just looking to respond, that's all we'll do. It's our first game against one of the acknowledged big boys and we'll see what happens. Then we can evaluate and redirect from there.”