Fergie’s lips sealed on apology to Becks

ALEX FERGUSON employed three decades of experience as a top-flight boss yesterday to deflect criticism but still strode away from a testy press conference without revealing whether he had apologised to David Beckham.

Dressed smartly in collar and tie, the fiery Scot kept his infamous temper in check as he faced his inquisitors at a pre-arranged briefing to preview tonight's Champions League clash with Juventus.

Ferguson admitted he had kicked a boot across the United dressing room after the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal, inadvertently hitting Beckham and cutting his head. Hopes of a full explanation of the incident were raised when it was revealed Ferguson would address the Beckham issue once the formal business of the meeting had been conducted.

As he started to talk about the game, Ferguson scanned the back of the room at the bank of photographers clicking away taking the pictures which would swiftly fly round the world. On his left, Rio Ferdinand sat with his cap pulled tightly over his head, to his right, United's communications director Paddy Harverson, bearing up to the pressure with a smile as Ferguson whispered quietly out of the corner of his mouth.

"Could all photographers please leave the room, you have your pictures," he declared before the manager, rather more forcefully added: "If you don't go, I will." It was only half-serious but Ferguson leaned back, arms folded, a man in total control.

As the snappers shuffled grudgingly away, Harverson said: "Could all journalists now leave the room." It was a joke, although one sensed he wished it was true.

Ferguson answered every question fully and politely, which is not always the case on these occasions.

It was all fairly friendly but at these events, the sting is always in the tail. The final question came and went, interpreted clearly for the benefit of United's Italian visitors.

But when it came, the statement, delivered with a degree of good humour, did little to address the issue.

"I have to stress that in 29 years as a coach whatever has happened in the dressing room has remained sacrosanct," he said.

"There is no way I could ever betray the trust of the players and take anything out of the dressing room no matter whose benefit you think it is in, it never works that way. Loyalty has to be 100%, never any less than that.

"Having said that, there has been a lot of possibility raised over this issue. The only reaction I have to that is that it was a freakish incident.

"If I tried it 100 times or a million times it could not happen again.

"Contrary to a lot of reports, David did not have two stitches in his head he had no stitches. It was a graze which was dealt with by the doctor, there was no problem and we move on. That is all there is to be said for it."

And with that, Ferguson rose and strode away, ignoring the optimistic inquisitor who bellowed "Have you apologised?".

Given that he will not elaborate further on the aftermath of the furious outburst which followed Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, a public admission of guilt was hardly likely even if his actions led to the England captain wandering the streets of Manchester with a couple of sticking plasters on his eye.

"Yes, he is fit," Ferguson had previously replied to a question concerning the calf injury which forced him off at the weekend and that, from United's perspective, is likely to be the last comment on the matter for some considerable time.

Yet given the strength of yesterday's comments, the United manager is unlikely to rest until the source of the leak is established. As well as being 100%, loyalty is a two-way thing and someone, deliberately or otherwise, has betrayed the trust.

The statement may have been made but the inquiry is only just beginning.