Strachan: no grudge match with me and Fergie

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan has dismissed talk of a Champions League grudge match with Alex Ferguson.

The relationship between Strachan and his former mentor at Aberdeen and Old Trafford has been strained.

Drawn together in Group F of the Champions League, Strachan claims reports of a feud have been greatly exaggerated and they are now good friends.

He said: “To put it in perspective, the last time we saw each other we spoke for 40 minutes about football, families and other things. If we have anywhere near the relationship we are supposed to that doesn’t happen.”

Strachan is quietly confident he can cause his old manager some problems in Manchester and in Glasgow.

“We have to be at our best and come up with ways of playing at our maximum,” said Strachan.

Strachan has bolstered his squad with the signings of Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Lee Naylor, both available to face Hibernian today. Midfielder Stilian Petrov is set to return after a knee injury while goalkeeper Artur Boruc is set to recover from a back problem.

The club continue to be linked with Real Madrid’s Thomas Gravesen.