Ferguson focused on delivering Super Cup

ALEX FERGUSON has set his sights on the UEFA Super Cup after admitting he did not give the competition the respect it deserved nine years ago.

Still heady from the remarkable European Cup victory against Bayern Munich, he saw his side go down 1-0 to Italians Lazio.

United return to Stade Louis II tonight and Ferguson is determined to make amends. UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg provide the opposition for the Champions League and Premier League winners.

Ferguson said: “The last time we came here, for some reason I played a weakened team. We had a lot of reserves in our line-up as we had a Monday game to follow against Newcastle.

“When I saw Lazio celebrating as if they had won the World Cup, I thought ‘That won’t happen again’. I will play a much stronger team tomorrow and we will represent the club in the right way.”

Gary Neville, expected to captain the side against the Russians, was part of that 1999 side and claims it was a painful experience. “The game tomorrow is extremely important. We did not realise that a few years ago. There are no league games to distract us, so there is no excuse this time. We need to get the victory as this is a prestigious game and one we want to win.”

United go into the match on the back of a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Monday which followed their draw on the opening day. Ferguson welcomes back Owen Hargreaves after injury and Nani, who missed the opening matches through suspension.

Hargreaves has recovered from tendinitis and will get some time on the pitch to help him build up his fitness. However, Ferguson has urged England manager Fabio Capello to refrain from naming the midfielder in his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

“Fabio will need players who are 100% fit to play a game of that nature against Croatia,” said the United boss.

Ferguson has nothing but admiration for Zenit’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers boss. Advocaat claims the Scot is “the best manager in the world” and there is mutual respect between both men.

Ferguson said: “What he is doing there is fantastic. The Dutch have always been travellers in football and do not mind coaching anywhere. That is a great asset to have. Dick, for his part, has been in places as far apart as Glasgow and St Petersburg.

“When he was in charge of Holland he was one of the best at understanding the dilemma of a club manager. He has proved a successful and competent coach, you just have to look at his record with Zenit.”

Ferguson took in their victory against Rangers in the final in Manchester and believes they were out on their own in the tournament. He said: “Zenit were the best team in the competition. They overcame Leverkusen and Bayern Munich on the way as well. “You tend to take notice of of results like that and their attacking play captured a lot of people’s attention. But we want to win this trophy. While there is no pressure on either team, there is a lot of prestige.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson is no further forward in his bid to bring in new faces, with Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov his top target.