Football: Fergie upbeat ahead of City showdown

Ferguson seems unconcerned about City’s host of big names

LONDON: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson lit the fuse ahead of an explosive Community Shield clash with Manchester City by warning his bitter rivals that even their financial muscle could not guarantee success in the Premier League. Ferguson initially seemed unconcerned when City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners started lavishing vast sums on a host of big names three years ago. But his dismissive jibes about dealing with ‘noisy neighbours’ have been replaced by awareness that Roberto Mancini’s expensively assembled team are now a serious threat. The two sides meet today in the Community Shield.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2011.