Source: Telegraph
Gareth Southgate denies Middlesbrough feud with Manchester United
Manchester United's hard fought 1-0 win was an ill-tempered affair with Pogatetz and Ronaldo having a running battle after the Austrian appeared to grab the United player by the throat when a corner was being taken. [LNB]The two players continued their dispute in to the tunnel at half-time with Ronaldo barging Pogatetz and team-mates having to separate them. [LNB]The incident was the latest in a string of flashpoints in matches between the clubs and Southgate and Sir Alex Ferguson have exchanged cross words in the past. [LNB]Earlier this year, Pogatetz enraged the United manager with a knee-high lunge on Rodrigo Possebon in a Carling Cup tie that resulted in the Austrian being sent off. [LNB]But Southgate insists that there is no grudge borne by his club and the notion of a running dispute is wide of the mark. [LNB]'Suggestions that there is a feud between the two clubs is nonsense,' said Southgate. "And as far as I'm concerned there's no way there's any bad feeling at all. [LNB]'We have the greatest respect for United and everything they have achieved.'[LNB]The result of Monday night's game, United's fourth single-goal victory in six matches, left the reigning champions seven points behind leaders Liverpool, with two games in hand. [LNB]Middlesbrough only remain outside the relegation places by virtue of a better goal difference than Stoke. [LNB]
