Source: PA
Bruce keen to finally beat United
Steve Bruce will lock horns with the man he still calls "boss" on Saturday desperate to finally break his duck.
The Sunderland manager will go head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson still looking for his first win over Manchester United, the club he served with such distinction as a player. Bruce was a member of the class of 1993 which finally ended a 26-year wait for a league title, establishing a dynasty which has added another 10 Premier League successes since.
He left Old Trafford for Birmingham in the summer of 1996 with three league winners' medals, two FA Cups, two League Cups and a European Cup Winners' Cup among his list of honours, and two years later, launched his managerial career at Sheffield United.
However, despite some near-misses - Sunderland led 2-1 at Old Trafford last season before Anton Ferdinand's unfortunate own goal handed United a face-saving point - he is yet to get the better of a man for whom he, not surprisingly, has the highest regard.
Bruce said: "Oh aye, he's `the boss', absolutely. There will never be another one. Since I have left, it doesn't matter where you go, everybody asks the same thing: 'What was he like? What was it like?'. He is a quite unbelievable manager and it is a quite unbelievable club, and I was privileged to be there, that's the only thing I can say.
"I was privileged to be there for the best part of 10 years. I have been trying for years to get a result over them and haven't quite managed it. I have managed a few draws, but that's about it. But they are without question for me still the team that has everybody talking about them."
