Manchester United v Portsmouth
The FA Community Shield, sponsored by McDonald's 2008
3pm, Sunday 10 August 2008
Wembley Stadium
Live on Setanta, highlights on ITV
Tony Adams has set the tone for a competitive FA Community Shield against Manchester United on Sunday by admitting: I just love beating Sir Alex Ferguson!
Portsmouth assistant manager Adams has enjoyed a long rivalry with United’s legendary boss - both as a lion-hearted player with Arsenal and now as a coach at Fratton Park.
So there is no chance of Pompey treating Sunday’s prestigious season -opener between The FA Cup holders and the Premier League champions as a friendly. Not if the former England captain has anything to do with it!
"Sir Alex has been outstanding - to go on for as long as he has and consistently pull out teams and develop sides is amazing," said Adams.
“Financially they are a massive club and he’s had the full support of his board and has been able to do his stuff.
“As I say, I have the utmost respect for him – and I love beating him! Love it. I don’t know why but I like beating Alex more than I do Arsene Wenger.”
That much was evident when Portsmouth went to Old Trafford in the quarter final of The FA Cup last season and, against the odds, pulled off an incredible 1-0 victory thanks to a 78th minute penalty from Sulley Muntari.
Not everyone enjoyed Portsmouth’s tactics that day, including a certain Scotsman if post-match stories are to be believed. But Adams is quick to brush off any talks of bad feeling.
“Don’t mention it, he’ll get the hump,” he joked. “Oh, did we stop them doing the treble...
“But we’re fine. I saw him after the game. He said well done – I think he swore at me and said ‘you better bloody win it now – if you beat United you win it.' So I just shut up, shook his hand and walked out. And we won it.”
That victory at Wembley, when Portsmouth beat Cardiff with a goal from Kanu, earned Pompey the right to face United again in The FA Community Shield and Adams believes the fact a team from outside of the so-called ‘big four’ is back on the big stage should help produce a more open contest.
“I think it will be a compliment for what we did last year and that’s what it should be," he added.
"It should be ‘look at these teams – one won the league, one won the cup, well done you two – go on and lift the curtain on a new season. We're looking forward to it."
It all sounds very friendly, but Adams has no doubts about what the match really means - both to himself and to his bitter rival.
"Put it this way," he said. "I don’t expect Alex to be happy if he loses."
