Manchester derby could be full-blooded affair Old adversaries meet up again

Published on Saturday 18 August 2007 01:12

ON THE basis of the historically acrimonious relationship between Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson, some of the more excitable sections of the media have been unable to resist the urge to view the collision of the two managers in tomorrow's Manchester derby as a re-enactment of the Titanic and the iceberg.

If there is a semblance of pertinence in that analogy, it is to be found in their contrasting personalities. Ferguson, the animated, inflammable Scot capable of arousing controversy and sensation with one withering put-down, and Eriksson, the seemingly static, stereotypically cool and inscrutable Swede, with a talent for heating his critics to fever point by appearing to do or say virtually nothing.

The principal reason for anticipation of some kind of conflagration when City host United at Eastlands tomorrow is a series of confrontations during Eriksson's time as the England manager over conflicts of respective interests.

There was also the occasion in 2002 when Eriksson was said to have been offered Ferguson's job at Old Trafford, after the latter had intimated his intention to retire. The United manager, who would, within a short time, regret the announcement and change his mind about quitting, was reportedly "furious" over the Swede's alleged intrusion before Ferguson had even officially submitted his notice.

At the time, in fact, Ferguson seemed to be more irritated by his then chief executive, Peter Kenyon, and the board of directors over the rapidity with which they seemed to move to have him replaced. In his overall assessment of the episode, however, he did not consider the famously self-advancing Eriksson to be entirely guiltless.

Genuine discord between them was more apparent during the Swede's tenure as manager of England, most commonly over the release of United players for international friendlies. This is not unusual in any country, but Ferguson, typically, would express his disapproval more forcefully than most.

The final contretemps, on the eve of last year's World Cup in Germany, was unquestionably the most serious and the most heated. Eriksson's insistence on including United's Wayne Rooney in his England squad - and his determination to play him - just six weeks after the player sustained a broken metatarsal brought Ferguson to the boil.

The Old Trafford manager had been persuaded by his club's medical specialists that Rooney would risk long-term injury if he played at such a competitive level as the World Cup finals so soon after damaging the bone in his foot.

Eriksson's medical staff countered that Rooney was wholly recovered and had their evidence corroborated by an independent consultant. It was reported that the episode climaxed in a telephone conversation between the two managers in which Ferguson swore at Eriksson and hung up in anger.

Ferguson has also been noticeably reluctant to comment on Eriksson's appointment at Manchester City, shying away from the good-luck wishes which, as a committee member of the League Managers' Association, he would normally direct at a member of the fraternity starting a new job.

Eriksson in the past couple of days has been contrastingly talkative about the supposed animosity between them, making soothing noises and insisting no problem exists. In one respect - "there is nothing personal between us" - the City manager has been perfectly correct.

The truth is there is no relationship between him and Ferguson. "I hardly know Sven," said the Scot yesterday, at the mention of the looming derby. This is hardly surprising, as the two would not have socialised during the Swede's time in England.

Eriksson said: "I haven't spoken to Alex since I took the City job, but there is no problem. I don't have any problems with him whatsoever. Alex and myself may have had different opinions in the past about Manchester United and the national team, especially when it came to friendly games, but we had lots of dinners together as well."

What he omitted to mention was that the dinners would have been formal affairs, in the company of several hundred others. It is some way removed from the image of two intimates sharing a corner table and enjoying each other's company.

Eriksson was reported yesterday as being so keen to melt any suggestion of frostiness that he has ordered a bottle of fine wine to offer Ferguson as a present tomorrow. The prospective balm is reputedly a vintage Cabernet Sauvignon costing 415, in deference to Ferguson's renowned viticultural expertise.

The veracity of the story seemed to take a knock, however, when the United manager declared his ignorance of the gesture. "I'm not aware of the wine," said Ferguson. "If he gives me a present, I'll accept it. But I'll not be sharing it. I'll be taking it home."

Win, lose or draw, Ferguson will almost certainly join Eriksson in the latter's office for a post-match glass, a ritual he regards as essential to the development of mutual respect within the managerial brotherhood.

This social aspect of the game does not, however, interfere with his determination to dominate his rivals. In his 21 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson has seen off 11 City managers and will lose no sleep over the prospect of Eriksson bringing up the round dozen.

Indeed, with United already four points behind their neighbours after only two Premier League matches, Ferguson will be more concerned with a first victory of the season than he will with developing any entente cordiale with Eriksson. This became clear yesterday when, in a typically matter-of-fact response to media questioning, he unloaded just a little more pressure on his fellow manager.

"It's a fantastic start for them," said Ferguson, "and Sven will be hoping his luck holds that way for a good part of the season. But no matter what people say, there will be expectation now, having won their first two games. That's a more difficult thing."

Eriksson effectively vindicated Ferguson's observation when he told of a recent experience. "Some City fans came to me in a restaurant," he said, "and they said, 'Don't worry about the Premier League, just beat Manchester United twice'. On paper, it's the biggest challenge you can have, because United are the champions."

In the circumstances, it is impossible to imagine either man will end the day quoting Humphrey Bogart's address to Claude Rains in the famous last line of Casablanca: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Super Cup win makes it 1-0 Sven in head-to-head

SIR Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson have locked horns as managers on one previous occasion and the Swede came out on top. Eriksson's Lazio overcame Ferguson's treble-winning Manchester United side 1-0 in the 1999 European Super Cup final in Monaco.

Chilean striker Marcelo Salas scored the only goal in the annual fixture between the Champions League winners and the European Cup-Winners' Cup winners.

The United team included Roy Keane, David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham. Three United players who played that night - Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ole Gunnar Skolskjaer - are still at Old Trafford. Of the trio, only Scholes is in the squad for tomorrow's game at Eastlands.

The star-studded Lazio side included Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Nesta, future United player Juan Sebastian Veron, Roberto Mancini and Attilio Lombardo.