Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson has warned minor league Burton Albion to forget their dreams of a fairytale soccer victory in the FA Cup third round replay tomorrow morning (NZ time).
United need to win after an indifferent spell, Ferguson said today, and Burton should be content with the jackpot they get from the Old Trafford game which is being televised live.
"It's a nice game for them. They will probably make around six, seven hundred thousand pounds out of it," the United manager told a news conference.
"In that respect it's terrific for them. But I always say in a cup tie, home advantage always gives you a great chance.
"It's beyond the fairytale thing, it's a matter of us winning the match. It doesn't matter who we play, we have got to win." Part-timers Burton, managed by former England international Nigel Clough, stunned English football when they held United to a goalless draw nine days ago and United lost 3-1 at the weekend to Manchester City.
Ferguson says Burton deserved the draw against a United side packed with reserves. He does not plan to play his first-teamers in the replay with a Premier League match against Liverpool looming on Sunday.
"I will make some changes. I think I played the right team in the first game and it won't be far away from that team again," said Ferguson.
Defender Nemanja Vidic could make his United debut following his signing from Spartak Moscow.
"It gives me an opportunity to use all my squad. Keeping players happy is not easy and I think anyone with a big squad will tell you that," Ferguson said.
The winners of Wednesday's game will be away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Forget the fairytale, says Man Utd's Ferguson
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