'Emotional' Fergie holds last press conference as United manager

Alex Ferguson has confirmed Anders Lindegaard will start his final game as Manchester United manager – and Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will be on the bench.

Ferguson promised Lindegaard he would make sure he reached the 10 Barclays Premier League appearances which at the time the Scot thought were required to qualify for a title winners’ medal.

The manager has since learned that he would have been able to give Lindegaard a medal anyway, but nevertheless he intends to stand by his pledge to get the Dane into double figures at West Brom on Sunday.

“I stand by that,” he said.

“Anders will be in goal. I will play one or two younger players, and I want to play Jonny Evans and Phil Jones at centre-half because they are the future.

“Nemanja and Rio will just have to make do with a place on the bench.”

Ferguson was presented with a cake by the media prior to today's press conference in honour of the 26 years he has spent at Old Trafford.

“It’s fully deserved,” he joked.

“There have been some times when I have not agreed with what people have written and when you write positive things I tend to dismiss them.

“But I have never held a grudge. It is not my style.”

Ferguson was in an emotional but cheery mood as he looked forward to his 1500th and final game as United manager before he stands down in favour of David Moyes in the summer.

“It has been amazing,” he said.

“Sunday (the home game against Swansea) was amazing and the parade on Monday was unbelievable.

“I thought the scenes after the treble in 1999 couldn’t be beaten but I think Monday probably did.”

Ferguson confirmed he has a League Managers’ Association meeting on Monday and horse racing commitments on Tuesday and Wednesday, ensuring the start of his retirement will be a busy one.

“It is going to be a different life,” he said.

“I have had 40 years as a manager.”