Ferguson warns Tevez to expect hostile ManU reception

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned former Old Trafford favourite Carlos Tevez to expect a hostile reception from the supporters who used to adore him if he features for Manchester City in Sunday’s derby showdown.

Tevez is expected to win his fight to recover from a knee injury in time to line up against his former United team-mates on his first return to the club he left to join City in a 24 million pounds (26 million euros) deal during the close-season.

Ferguson might have preferred to have kept Tevez, but if he did he has done a good job of hiding that feeling amid the war of words between both camps ahead of this derby.

The Scot admits he couldn’t care less if Tevez plays or not, claimed Emmanuel Adebayor is City’s best player and hinted that the Argentinian might be on the receiving end of some abuse from United supporters.

Ferguson said: “We offered what they asked for (for Tevez) at the beginning, when he joined us it was 24 million pounds but he had obviously made his mind up.

“He may be surprised (at his reception). It is a different culture nowadays. Very emotional.

“United and Leeds players back in the 1960s had a full scrap, 22 players, and Denis Law got his strip ripped off him. The fans were just watching it. There was no emotion at all. But today it is a different world.”

Ferguson has been quick to stick the boot into City at every opportunity and took his chance again when asked if he could ever imagine a time when City would start one of these games as favourites to win.

He said: “What time is it? I think it is time for me to leave. Not in my life-time.”

Ferguson still has great respect for opposite number Mark Hughes, however and believes the City manager appreciates the size of his task at Eastlands as well as the soaring expectations.

Ferguson, who could be without Rio Ferdinand due to a groin problem while Paul Scholes is suspended, added: “Winning is the name of the game, I am afraid.

“That’s the horrible part for some of our managers. You have to win. I am sure he (Hughes) realises what is entailed in this game.

“He did a great job at Blackburn, under limited resources, and he obviously knew the time was right for him to leave for a club with a far bigger profile and history than Blackburn Rovers, and now that they have spent this money, he will have a sense of possible achievement.”

Hughes has spoken to City’s legal experts and revealed the club will challenge any ban handed out to Adebayor for his goal celebration against Arsenal last weekend.

Adebayor has been charged with improper conduct and could face a two game ban to go with the three game ban given to him by the FA for stamping on Robin Van Persie’s face in the same game.

Hughes said: “We have had time to construct our arguments and I think we have a view and with a longer period of time to make our feelings known in that respect.

“I think it is important not to take the emotion out of the game and that is part and parcel as to why it is such a huge game worldwide.

“But the circumstances of the game and the amount of criticism and vitriol that Ade had to take was not nice. It was a difficult situation for him, the first time he has come up against former team-mates and some of those team-mates prior to the game felt like they could not shake his hand.

“All these things maybe affect somebody?s emotional state in the game and I just think the celebration was an outpouring of that.

“I have to say he did not leave the field of play, he slid on his knees which is his normal celebration.”