Ince - Don't compare me to Fergie

Ince: Ready for Fergie

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Blackburn boss Paul Ince insists he is not just a carbon copy of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ince has risen rapidly through the managerial ranks after starting out with Macclesfield in 2006, before joining Milton Keynes Dons in 2007 and then Blackburn earlier this year.

The former England international has already been likened to his former boss - who he served for six years as a player at Manchester United.

Ince insists he is looking forward to facing Ferguson for the first time since becoming a manager when the two teams meet at Ewood Park on Saturday.

"Yeah I think it was one of many [fixtures I looked for], all the clubs I played for - Liverpool, Middlesbrough, teams like that - so it is obviously one of the ones up there," he told Sky Sports News.

Ince believes it is unrealistic to compare him to Ferguson, saying: "It is early doors I have only been in management 18 months to two years.

"I think it takes time to find your own identity but one thing he did teach me was to have high standards both on and off the pitch and that is something I tried to implement in the job I do.

"I am not aware of that [comparison with Ferguson]. I am my own person and I have to have my own identity, you can learn from people like Sir Alex, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle - people like that - but you have to have your own identity."

Hard task

Blackburn face United on the back of three wins, whilst the Red Devils have had an indifferent start to the new season - but Ince is not expecting anything other than a tough match.

"It is never a good time to play Man United, they are European and Premiership champions - we are under no illusions that it is going to be hard," he said.

"It is a hard game for us - we know that - we have three wins and go in there with confidence, we have players missing but I don't think that will really mean anything but why not look at Arsenal's result against Hull and that has to be the yardstick for clubs like Blackburn."