Source: Team_Talk
Leeds build-up scary - Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted it was a "frightening" experience to be around the Manchester United team hotel in Leeds on Tuesday afternoon.[LNB] Fourteen supporters have been charged with a variety of offences following the Elland Road encounter, with fans of both sides aiming insults at each other during the Premier League champions' 3-0 Carling Cup third-round triumph.[LNB]Visiting fans held up a banner depicting 'Istanbul' a reference to the two Leeds United fans who were killed in Turkey 11 years ago, with their home counterparts responding with taunts about the 1958 Munich air crash.[LNB]However, Ferguson revealed the problems had begun much earlier, as his team prepared for the game in their city centre hotel.[LNB]And whilst he has always viewed Liverpool as the real derby for his team, the animosity around Leeds clashes is far worse.[LNB]"Historically, it has been there for a long time," he said. "I have always said Liverpool-Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects.[LNB]"Sometimes supporters can play a bad part in that particular game. But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.[LNB]"It was frightening at our hotel. We had seven police vans round the hotel protecting the team.[LNB]"I don't know why it is like that. I don't understand it. But it is there and it is not nice."[LNB]On Friday, QPR manager Neil Warnock joined the chorus of people condemning those involved in the trouble at Elland Road and believes it was a sad night for English football.[LNB]"What are you going to do? Are you going to ban everybody?" he said.[LNB]"I mean there were thousands, it wasn't just one or two the other night. It is horrible.[LNB]"I obviously get called names at certain local derbies that I've been involved in and I try and smile at the crowd without actually bringing it on.[LNB]"But I think the other night it went beyond that. I thought it was very sad the other night.[LNB]"The Munich and the Istanbul chants, I don't think English football came out of that with any credit.[LNB]"I thought it was disappointing because of the families involved. You've got to respect people like that.[LNB]"Football is a game and I hate to see things like that because it takes away from what we are all in it for.[LNB]"It doesn't divide opinion because I don't think there's anyone who feels people were right to do what they did the other night.[LNB]"Why they do it, I just don't know."
