Sir Alex Ferguson will use Ryan Giggs controversy as spur

It is true to say Sir Ferguson often thrives on hostility, when he gets a chance to circle the wagons and set Manchester United against the world. So, with the Giggs saga taking another twist yesterday when Ferguson took exception to a question asked about the veteran Welshman, rather than affecting preparations, it is likely to bring an increased sense of injustice, however misplaced that may be.

Giggs, who was named by an MP in Parliament as the footballer who had taken out an injunction regarding his private life, was at United's Carrington training complex yesterday morning. However, he was not on public view and did not put in an appearance at a planned Uefa media day ahead of the Champions League final.

The winger did, however, step into the spotlight as part of a reunited 'Class of 92' during Gary Neville's testimonial match against Juventus at Old Trafford. Ferguson had earlier voiced the opinion that the tribal nature of English football will ensure his club do not receive the unqualified backing of "home" supporters at Wembley on Saturday night.

Former midfielder Paddy Crerand has previously recounted how members of the public lined the north London streets to cheer United when they headed to the stadium for their last European Cup final in the capital, against Benfica in 1968.

From his home in Glasgow, Ferguson was a supporter that night too, just as the one-time Rangers player had been 12 months earlier when Celtic became the first British team to win the most prestigious club competition in the game. However, the United manager does not expect the same affection this weekend when his team tackle Barcelona.

Indeed, there will be large parts of Manchester where he knows animosity is going to be the overriding emotion.

"In 1968, everybody was behind United, even in Scotland because of the links with Sir Matt Busby," Ferguson recalled. "I was one of them. It was a fantastic feat. To lose most of his team in 1958 (in the Munich air disaster], then rebuild it to win the trophy ten years later was incredible.

"When Celtic won the European Cup in 1967, I was with the Scotland team in Hong Kong. But I know from my part of Glasgow everybody was behind Celtic because it was an incredible achievement for Jock Stein to build a team of players, all Scottish, from within 20 miles of each other. It is a different story with United. We are in a country with a lot of tribalism, so you will never get unilateral support. But that is not a problem for us."

Ferguson's squad has a clean bill of health, which means Giggs is virtually certain to be included on Saturday. Others will not be so lucky, including four of the players who collected Premier League medals on Sunday, having made the requisite ten appearances.

"It is not easy picking a team because you are dealing with the human side of the game," said Ferguson. "Players have worked ever so hard for the team all season and it has been a squad game for us. Unfortunately there is one person who has to tell them and that is me. It is not an easy job but it has to be done because we want to win the game. They all understand that. I pick the team for the right reasons."

Even before such a crucial match, Ferguson is looking to the future, with reports in Spain suggesting goalkeeper David De Gea's signing from Atletico Madrid will be finalised next week.

And Manchester City revelling in their FA Cup winners' parade on Monday led the United manager to start looking ahead before this season has reached its crescendo.

"The only thing that matters at this club is that you win," he said. "Even then, you don't just sit back and think about this season. We have to carry on. We have a responsibility and expectation to live up to and that will carry on. Maybe next season is our biggest challenge. Who knows? "But, as I have always said, Manchester United should accept a challenge. We are good at that. We will accept anything that comes our way."