Ferguson keen to forget worries with cup success

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted he has “not had an easy week” as he faces up to Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal at Old Trafford today.

Although Arsene Wenger has been centre stage following the row over Robin van Persie’s red card in Barcelona and the subsequent decision by UEFA to charge the Gunners boss with improper conduct, it only mirrors the difficulties Ferguson encountered with his observations about Martin Atkinson after last week’s Premier League defeat at Chelsea.

Ferguson must answer an FA charge about that himself but by imposing a media blackout around the weekend encounter with Liverpool, when United were badly beaten, the Scot has had to endure more negative publicity about his own club.