Jose Mourinho will be offered red wine or Somerset cider after Man United's FA Cup trip to Yeovil by boss Darren Way... who says Sir Alex Ferguson helped him recover from a car crash

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If you'd like a soundbite, Yeovil Town manager Darren Way has quirkily sourced both red wine and Somerset cider for Jose Mourinho to glug on Friday.

'It's important he's privy to what we drink,' is the sort of sweetness and light expected in the company of the FA Cup's lowest-ranked team left gearing up to host the world's largest club.

The pair will speak. The United boss will politely answer questions. They will shake hands. Maybe share a cider on Mourinho's 55th birthday.

Yeovil Town boss Darren Way is preparing to host Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday

Way hopes to have a drink with Jose Mourinho and will offer him a choice of cider or red wine

But more significantly Way, with obvious steely drive and inherent belief in his own abilities, used his elevated platform this week to convey the turmoil arguably this competition's greatest ever romance story are currently contending with. There clearly lie issues between the manager and his club's supporters.

They languish 21st in League Two and could be in the relegation zone by Saturday night. Tumbling out of the Football League, where they have competed since 2003, simply doesn't bear thinking about.

Way, a former midfielder who once improbably rose to the Championship with the unfashionable Glovers, did not duck the issues. The money has gone. Attendances have dipped. Yeovil are treading water with a brick tied to their foot.

'I'm a little bit disappointed, I can't lie,' Way said. 'One or two are trying to set up little conspiracies against us. That's unfortunate. My message to them would be live in the moment.

'We've got a population of 50,000 people. We're probably going to have 9,000 at Huish Park and this could be one of the club's biggest achievements.

'Being a Yeovil fan, you may never get this opportunity again. Get behind the team, get behind the manager, and feel proud for the day. Turn up with pride. Turn up with honesty.'

This will not be the first time that former midfielder Way, 38, has spoken to a United manager

History actually suggests being a Yeovil fan means they probably will get this opportunity again. Manchester United were last here only three years ago and their hosts are the quintessential giantkillers, synonymous with the competition's tradition; no fewer than 20 shocks to their name when in non-League.

Motivational messages, aspirational pictures and Conor McGregor quotes adorn the stadium walls and each player has a 'warrior card' with personal goals in his locker. A sports psychologist armed with PowerPoint was in last week.

Yet the fear is any further upsets may come beneath the fourth tier. Way's association with Yeovil goes back 17 years, and as such he is an authority. Ex-captain and manager Terry Skiverton is next to him as assistant. They are true firefighters and even today it looks as if star player Otis Khan is heading for the exit.

'It's difficult to lose that firefighting label,' Way added. 'I'm not going to be here for the rest of my life. I just need to sleep well at night knowing I've done a good job for the town. I've an emotional attachment. I'm going to do my best to protect the history.

Way says that Sir Alex Ferguson helped him get his life back on track after a car crash in 2008

'There's no stability whatsoever. I've had a turnover of 18 players this year. Before the third-round game with Bradford we only had 10 players. Two players met the team on the day.

'I genuinely believe my players have tried to prove individuals wrong. I'm going to make sure no-one influences my players that they're not doing a good job because they are.'

Crying conspiracy immediately before such a momentous night might seem unusual. Way is straight down the line, certainly after a car crash almost cost him his life in 2008.

Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson, helped enormously afterwards in providing opposition for his testimonial. Way has since leaned on Ferguson for advice, with the Scot talking to Yeovil's players via Skype earlier in the month.

John Terry also gave them a set-piece masterclass recently. Lee Johnson opened up Bristol City's facilities this week too. Sometimes it's who you know.

'It's been a difficult two-and-a-half years. The club was doomed when I took over. I've done my job up until now and helped balance the books and finish a position higher every year despite fewer resources.

'This is our chance to show the world what Yeovil are about. We're not called the giantkillers for nothing.'