Ferguson plays down player conduct fears for semi-final
Carling Cup semi-final second leg: Manchester Utd v Manchester City Venue: Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 27 January Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio and BBC Sport website. Text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles. Also live on Sky Sports 1. Highlights on Match of the Day (and BBC iPlayer from Thursday)
Ferguson is confident his side can overturn their one-goal deficit
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson does not feel his players need to be warned about their conduct for Wednesday's tie with Manchester City.
United trail 2-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final after an eventful first leg, a match overshadowed by a confrontation between Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville.
The City striker and United defender were then warned about their future behaviour by the Football Association.
However, Ferguson said: "The player behaviour has always been perfect."
He added: "We have great players who play to the right rules of the game.
"We have never had any issues in big games. Look at the record. I am not worried about it."
We have enough experience of playing in big games to know it is important to keep your head
Sir Alex Ferguson
Neville was under investigation for an apparent one-fingered gesture after former United forward Tevez scored a first-half equaliser from the penalty spot.
Tevez then called ex-team-mate Neville a "boot-licker" and a "moron" in a radio interview following the defender's comments about the Argentine before the first leg.
Eighteen arrests were made at Eastlands as the heated atmosphere spread into the crowd, prompting the FA to contact Greater Manchester Police with a view to ensuring the second leg passes off without incident.
An extra 75 police officers have been drafted in for the match at Old Trafford.
Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins said both Ferguson and Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini had been asked to remind their players of their responsibilities.
However, Ferguson is confident the match will pass without incident because his players have enough experience and restraint to refrain from any further confrontations.
"I don't pay any attention to all that," added the Scot.
"We have enough experience of playing in big games to know it is important to keep your head. It is always a key factor.
"We have had feisty games against the likes of Leeds and Liverpool since I have been here.
"Player behaviour has always been good. It has never been an issue."
Mancini is demanding his team shows a positive attitude and does not sit back and invite the hosts on to them.
"We don't want to go to Old Trafford only to defend," the Italian said. "It is possible we will have to defend if United attack.
"Then we will need to defend very well because they have so many good players. But we want to win, not just the tie, but at Old Trafford. To do that we must attack."
With an FA Cup fifth-round spot already assured against Stoke, Mancini is determined to pick up the club's first piece of silverware in 33 years.
"It is important to get to that first final. After that we want to win it. But we have two opportunities", he added.
"After this one we have another in the FA Cup, although obviously this one is a big chance to get to Wembley because it is a semi-final."
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