Sir Alex Ferguson reveals Leeds fear

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.

Visiting fans held up a banner depicting ‘Istanbul’ a reference to the two Leeds fans who were killed in Turkey 11 years ago, with their home counterparts responding with taunts about the 1958 Munich air crash.

However, Ferguson revealed the problems had begun much earlier, as his team prepared for the game in their city centre hotel.

And while he has always viewed Liverpool as the real derby for his team, the animosity around Leeds clashes is far worse.

“Historically, it has been there for a long time,” he said.

“I have always said Liverpool-Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects.

“Sometimes supporters can play a bad part in that particular game. But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.

“It was frightening at our hotel. We had seven police vans round the hotel protecting the team.

“I don’t know why it is like that. I don’t understand it. But it is there and it is not nice.”