Sir Alex appeals to City fans

Sir Alex Ferguson admits that Manchester City have done everything within their power to honour the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster. Now he hopes that the Blues' fans will follow suit.

City will sport a special one-off kit devoid of branding and sponsorship on Sunday, and have written to their fans travelling to Old Trafford imploring them to observe a pre-match minute of silence.

The anniversary's significance and the inevitable high emotions surrounding the match will undoubtedly prompt intense media scrutiny towards behaviour in the stands, and Sir Alex is hopeful that respect will prevail.

"There's been a lot of speculation about Manchester City fans and how they're going to behave," he told his pre-match press conference. "But I think the club themselves have done their very best to ensure that it's a peaceful day

"Hopefully we can enjoy a good game of football without any disruptions to it. I don't think there will be any problem with our fans, I just hope City fans listen to their own club and make it a game we all want to remember. I think that's very, very important."

Once the minute's silence has been completed on Sunday, attentions will quickly switch to the three points on offer and Manchester's bragging rights.

Sir Alex is hopeful that his side can take the points and the plaudits, courtesy of a display reminiscent of the great Sir Matt Busby side at the heart of the game's poignancy.

"I hope we win the game and I hope we put on a really good performance," he said. "The two go hand-in-hand on this occasion, given the history of the Munich disaster and the way the team played.

"I think we've got equally exciting players at our club at the moment, young players who are doing the same thing Manchester United have done in the past, tried to entertain and excite. We basically ask the same things these days, just go and play."