Sir Alex: Royals have plenty of fighting qualities

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his praise for Monday’s opponents Reading, claiming they have the potential to cause an upset.

Brian McDermott’s side face the former Premier League champions at Old Trafford in three days time, in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Despite being in the relegation zone, Ferguson has praised Reading’s fighting spirit, witnessed during side’s 4-3 victory over the Royals in December.

Speaking to Sky Sports.com, the 71-year old said: ‘Reading are a team who are showing plenty of fighting qualities, as you would expect given they are down near the bottom. We’ll take nothing for granted. In the FA Cup you always expect the unexpected.’

‘You just hope you’re not a casualty or a shock. I will make some changes but I don’t think the incentive to get to the quarter-final is lost on any of the players. There is a good spirit and they’re all contributing. Whatever side I pick we’re expected to qualify.’

Kind words from Ferguson, but is speaking sense saying that he expects to win, irrelevant of what caliber of side he puts out. United will probably have too much for us in every department come Monday, but I don’t think it will be a whitewash, rather a hard-fought cup tie.