Ferguson, speaking in the official match programme, said: Martin has done a good job in a quiet way without spending a great deal. He has bought very wisely and signing Dunne is the buy of the season. ?5m for him was outstanding business. Martin...

And in a further barb at City, who have spent ?200m trying to rebuild their team and put up a provocative Welcome to Manchester poster of Carlos Tevez, Ferguson added: 'Martin has done a good job in a quiet way without spending a great deal...

United coach, Alex Ferguson said of the final, Wembley is an occasion. It has always been that way. But the only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on Sunday. It is not a nice day when you lose.

While Ferguson described the quest for a 19th league title as in my soul, no such phrases are invoked to describe a competition that is a lesser priority.

I'm thinking about the younger ones to give them that smell [of success], Ferguson said. There are two or three that come into that category, like Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafael. They obviously have to be considered, but it would be...

He said: In the modern day game we are always tempted to try to get the best players from Europe. That is a fact. We would endorse the fact if you can get an English player it would be better and Martin has gone with British players. He has never...

We have ten league games and hopefully six European ties and tomorrow's final so that is 17 games. A goal a game would bring him to 44. There's pressure for you, said Sir Alex. I think it is hard to think he could reach that. It is a...

Ferguson said: It has to be a consideration. The problem is he is desperate to play. He always is.

Ferguson said: It has to be a consideration simply because we have important games coming up.

Ferguson said: We've 10 league games left to play, hopefully we'll get six European ties and the Carling Cup final. That's 17 games. A goal a game would bring Wayne to 44 goals, but it's hard to think he'll get that. If he gets over 30, I'll be...

Ryan still has the injury to the arm, said Ferguson.

...as he pondered a fixture list which includes a return meeting with Milan at Old Trafford on March 10 and vital Premier League games, Ferguson said: It has to be a consideration simply because we have important games coming up. The problem...

It has to be a consideration simply because we have important games coming up, said the United boss. The problem is he is desperate to play, he is always desperate to play. Maybe it is his chance to play right-back because he keeps telling...

Ferguson said: He's down to earth, he's intelligent and I think all his teams work hard and respect him everywhere he's been. Where he was good at Leicester was plucking players who were not doing well at other clubs - who were run-of-the-mill...

He has to learn, against Ronaldinho, that this is the real world, Ferguson said.

Ferguson said: We've got 10 league games left, the Carling Cup final and a possible six more games in the Champions League if we reach the final. A goal a game would bring Wayne to 44. There's pressure. But who wouldn't thrive on that? Crikey me....

I think the BBC is the kind of company that never apologise and they never will apologise, he said.

Dimitar is consistent, said Ferguson. On Saturday he looked like the only one who could score and has performed well in recent games. We do have a preference to play one striker sometimes, but that does not reflect on him in any way, or...

We have 10 league games after Sunday and hopefully six European ties. That is 17 games in total, said Ferguson. A goal a game would bring him to 44. There's pressure for you. It is a target and who wouldn't love to get that kind of goal...

I don't think the final can reach the same level of emotion. It is a different type of game, although Wembley is an occasion, said Ferguson. The only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on...

In the modern day game we are always tempted to try to get the best players from Europe. That is a fact, said Ferguson. We would endorse the fact if you can get an English player it would be better and Martin has gone with British players....

It has to be a consideration simply because we've got important games coming up, Ferguson said. The problem is that he's desperate to play. He's always desperate to play. But he is hard to leave out because he has got the energy all the...

I'm thinking about the younger ones, added Ferguson. There's two or three that come into that category like Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafa Da Silva. They have to be considered. But we want to win the cup. It would be nice to win the...

He is terrifying opponents with the kind of form that is fast putting him up there alongside world greats like Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka, wrote Sir Alex Ferguson about Wayne Rooney in his programme notes this week.

I am thinking about the younger ones to give them that smell of success. There are two or three that come into that category, like Gibson, Evans and Rafael, said Ferguson. They have to be considered. But it would be nice to win the cup...

Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him the longevity in the game, said Ferguson. That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at Juventus, Ajax and on an...

Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him the longevity in the game, United manager Alex Ferguson said Friday. That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but...

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said of the news: Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself have given him the longevity in the game. That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at...

Ferguson told ManUtd.com: Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him the longevity in the game. That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at Juventus, Ajax and on...

Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself as a professional has given him the longevity in the game, Sir Alex Ferguson told manutd.com. That longevity includes such great experience not just at...

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told ManUtd.com: Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself as a professional has given him the longevity in the game. That longevity includes such great experience not just at...

With Rio, we don't think his back injury is terribly serious, said Sir Alex. But it was bad enough for him not to play on Tuesday. The twinge got worse as the day went on and we couldn't take a chance on it. He'll be out on Sunday and he...

It's a bad blow, particularly with the Milan game coming up because [Michael] Carrick is suspended for that one, added Ferguson, who is still without Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargeaves and John O'Shea.

The final itself has a great attraction, Ferguson said.

Asked about his team selection on Thursday, Ferguson told reporters at a news briefing: I'm thinking about the younger ones. There's two or three that come into that category like Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafa Da Silva. Continued......

I have three good goalkeepers and I need to choose the right one, added Ferguson, who can also call upon Polish international Tomasz Kuszczak. I gave Edwin a rest on Tuesday because he has come through quite a tough period, having come...

Asked about his team selection on Thursday, Ferguson told reporters at a news briefing: I'm thinking about the younger ones. There's two or three that come into that category like Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafa Da Silva. They have to be...

Ryan still has the injury to the arm, said Ferguson. But we are taking the plate out at the end of the week and he will be in full training after that.

They're less ready to hold their hands up, Ferguson said pointedly late last year. If you go back several years you had a player with a certain pride and responsibility for their own performance. They were less protected, so they could...

I think that's entirely up to Fabio, he can do that. No problem for me, said Ferguson.

I don't think the final can reach the same level of emotion as the semi, said Ferguson. It is a different type of game.

You can never know with back injuries, said Ferguson. We've been through this before and we don't think it's too serious. We think he'll be back in two weeks, but I don't think he'll be back for the Milan game.

I think that's entirely up to Fabio - he can do that, Ferguson, the United manager, said. That's no problem for me. He [Ferdinand] won't be training here anyway, will he?

There will be changes on Sunday, said Ferguson. I have done that all along in the competition and I will have to look at the situation to make sure we have a fresh team.

Ryan still has the injury to his arm, said Ferguson of 36-year-old Giggs. But we are taking the plate out at the end of the week and he will be in full training after that, which is good news.

I don't think we're at the point where Rio should be concentrating on one part of his life in terms of international and domestic football and I don't think he's ever thought about the possibility himself Ferguson told reporters.

It is strange, when you see cruciate injuries it is usually something simple, said Ferguson. He stretched out for the ball and his knee just popped. We have assessed the situation and know he needs the operation. That will be done in two...

It is a blow for us because I was looking forward to having Ferdinand and Vidic back [against West Ham] on Tuesday, Ferguson said. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. You never know with back injuries and we have been through this before, but...

I hope we are involved in a Treble this time too, said Ferguson.

Wembley is an occasion. It has always been that way, said Ferguson. But the only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on Sunday. It is not a nice day when you lose.

The final has a great attraction to it, said Alex Ferguson. We recognise the challenge of Villa. The final won't reach the emotional stage of the semi-final ties. It's a different game, but it's a cup final with two good teams. The pitch...

I have three good goalkeepers and I need to choose the right one, Ferguson said. I gave Edwin the rest on Tuesday because he has come through quite a tough period with his injury and also his family situation. He has not missed a game,...

It is a bad blow for the boy and a bad blow for us, Ferguson said.

The final itself has a great attraction, Ferguson said. We recognize very seriously the challenge from Aston Villa. When you think of the team Martin O'Neill inherited and compare it with the team he has got now it's completely different...

I have three good goalkeepers and I need to choose the right one, said Ferguson. I gave Edwin the rest on Tuesday because he has come through quite a tough period with his injury and also his family situation. He has not missed a game,...

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: It is a bad blow. He was looking forward to coming back and had been showing great energy and enthusiasm.

He won't be fit for the England game but we don't think it is too serious, said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is a blow for us because I was looking forward to having Ferdinand and Vidic back on Tuesday, Ferguson said on Thursday. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. You never know with back injuries and we have been through this before, but we...

He won't be fit for the England game - that is obvious, said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

He was looking forward to the match on Tuesday and he was showing great energy to do well, Ferguson added. It is a bit of a blow to us, particularly with the AC Milan game coming up because Michael Carrick is suspended. It is strange, when...

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: It is a bad blow for the boy and a bad blow for us.

I am thinking about the younger ones to give them that smell [of success]. There are two or three that come into that category, like [Darron] Gibson, [Jonny] Evans and Rafael, he told manutd.com. They obviously have to be considered. But...

Ferguson added: Rio Ferdinand is also out for Sunday, but his back injury is not serious. There's good news with light at the end of the tunnel for Ryan Giggs, who'll be back in training soon.

I don't think we are at the stage where he should be concentrating on one part of his life in terms of international and domestic football, Ferguson said. That has never been any issue. I have never discussed it with him and I don't think...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: It is a bad blow for the boy and a bad blow for us.

Ryan still has the injury to the arm, said Ferguson. But we are taking the plate out at the end of the week and he will be in full training after that, which is good news.

I don't think we are at the stage where he should be concentrating on one part of his life in terms of international and domestic football, said Ferguson. I have never discussed it with him and I don't think he has ever thought about that...

Ferguson said Anderson, had shown great energy and enthusiasm Tuesday but would be out for at least six months.

The real bad news we've got is that Anderson's got a cruciate knee injury, Ferguson confirmed to reporters at a press conference today. So he'll be out for the rest of the season. That's unfortunate for the boy, it's a bad blow. But these...

Sir Alex said: He won't be fit for the England game. That is obvious.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said the centre-back felt a twinge in his back while training and could not be risked in Tuesday's 3-0 win over West Ham.

The real bad news we have got is that Anderson has suffered a cruciate knee injury and he'll be out for rest of the season. It's unfortunate for the boy. It's a bad blow, Sir Alex Ferguson said in the club's official website. So that is a...

It is a bad blow for the boy and a bad blow for us, Sir Alex Ferguson said.

He won't be fit for the England game, said Ferguson. That is obvious.

Ferguson stated after that game that the player would miss a couple of matches, ruling Ferdinand out of the Carling Cup final and England's March 3 friendly at Wembley with Egypt, a game for which he will be replaced by Steven Gerrard,...

United Sir Alex Ferguson said earlier in the week: Rio tweaked his back in training and he won't be ready for Sunday. It's unfortunate for him that he's going to miss a couple of games. Rio's been training great too. There have been no mishaps at...