Fergie does not fear City

United boss not concerned by takeover

Last updated: 5th September 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United manager

Ferguson: Not worried

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Sir Alex Ferguson has played down the threat posed by local rivals Manchester City.

City are expected to become a major force in English football after agreeing a takeover deal with the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG).

They have already signed Robinho for a British record transfer fee but Ferguson insists he is not too concerned by the dramatic developments.

Chelsea have spent heavily since Roman Abramovich bought the London club five years ago but Manchester United have won back-to-back Premier League titles and Ferguson is now ready for City's challenge.

"I can't be worried," Ferguson told reporters after a meeting of top coaches at Uefa headquarters in Switzerland.

"We have a good setup ourselves and we've been working to build up the team we've got, so we just have to carry on.

"There are always challenges in football, some years ago it was Chelsea and some years ago it was Arsenal and wherever the challenge comes from we have to accept it. So it doesn't change anything."

Ronaldo talk

City officials have spoken about signing Cristiano Ronaldo for a colossal fee in the region of £135million but Ferguson was amused by the suggestion.

"They can talk," said the United boss.

Ferguson accepts that City boss Mark Hughes will now come under pressure to deliver success to the club.

Asked if he would have liked such responsibility as a young coach, Ferguson replied: "For a young manager it must be difficult.

"You can't judge it from when I started, it is a completely different world now. I am at the tail-end of my career. I've been through all these changes so it doesn't faze me."