Ferguson hits out over Evra ban

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Tuesday he would not have any idea how English football's disciplinary chiefs were thinking “if I was sitting at the breakfast table with them.”

In typically feisty form ahead of Manchester United's Champions League meeting with Aalborg here on Wednesday, the Scot declared himself baffled by the four-match suspension handed to defender Patrice Evra by the Football Association last week.

United have yet to receive written confirmation of the ban and 15,000-pound fine after Evra was ruled guilty of improper conduct in connection with an altercation with a groundsman following United's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in April.

If the suspension stands, the French full-back will miss the end-of-year Premier League games against Stoke and Middlesbrough and will also be ruled out of the FA Cup third round game against Southampton and the League Cup semi-final first leg with Derby in January.

But Ferguson hinted that United would appeal the ruling.

He said: “It was a shock, I must admit. Of all the things the FA has done to this club over the years, that was one of the big shocks.

“The written reasons haven't been delivered to (chief executive) David Gill yet so we can't really comment on what our next step is going to be.

“You can never guess what these people are doing and I couldn't tell you. I wouldn't know what they were thinking if I was sitting at the breakfast table with them.”

Ferguson is set to leave Cristiano Ronaldo, who suffered a hip problem in the 1-0 win over Sunderland, on the sidelines on Wednesday.

The Scot is confident however that the Portuguese will be available to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday, along with midfielder Michael Carrick, who is ruled out of the game against the Danish side with a minor knock.

Ferguson maintains it is vital that United secure top spot in their group, which they will do as long as they at least match Villarreal's result at Celtic.

He said: “We want to be number one. Our experience of being second in the groups has not been good over the years and it's better when you win the group. You know that you've got the home leg second in the last 16.”

United were comfortable 3-0 winners when they played Aalborg in Denmark but he said the Danes deserved respect for their performances, which have earned them a UEFA Cup slot.

“Aalborg are a good football team … our experience is that they're a difficult team to play against and that tells you there is good quality there.

“They're showing good consistency and good form at the moment and it's not a surprise they're in the UEFA Cup.”

Ferguson could use Wednesday's match to allow Carlos Tevez to run off some of the frustration that has built up because of the Argentinian striker's lack of first-team opportunities this season.

Tevez's future following the expiry of the loan deal which brought him to Old Trafford appears uncertain, but Ferguson insisted the situation was not unsettling for the player or the club.

“It's not as if we've been short on negotiations, there have been plenty of negotiations and I think that we all know that sometimes it can take a long time,” Ferguson said.

“David Gill has been talking to his agent and therefore it's best left with David because he's good at that.”

Ben Foster is likely to be handed his second start in the space of a week, following his appearance in the 5-3 League Cup victory over Blackburn.

The goalkeeper, 25, is determined to make the most of a rare opportunity to shine.

He said: “I like to think that if I get the chance that I will be kept in as well but I've just got to keep doing the right things in training and hopefully that will come along.

“It's nice to be involved finally. Last year I had the bad injury and I was pretty much out for the whole season and it takes a while to get back into the swing of things.

“This season, it's started well, I've been involved in a few games and played in a couple as well and hopefully there'll be more to come.”