Ferguson refutes United 'agreement'

Manchester United are embroiled in a row ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Valencia.  

The Spanish club's striker Miguel-Angel Angulo has claimed there was an "agreement" between the teams to draw their clash in Spain last season.

The result saw both teams qualify for the next stage of the Champions League.

But when United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was quizzed about the claim following United's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, he said: "I know nothing about that. No comment."

The two sides met in the second group stage last season and, by the time United travelled to Spain, they had already qualified for the quarter-finals while Valencia needed just a point.

The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

"I just hope this match won't be like the last one when we 'agreed' to draw before the game," Angulo is reported as claiming on onefootball.com.

He added: "I guess this time will be different because there's a lot to fight for.

"It was to our mutual benefit to go easy last time," the 23-year-old claimed.

"But it won't be the same this year because there's a side like Panathinaikos breathing down both our necks."

United won the group and Valencia finished with the point they needed to pip Fiorentina for the runners-up spot.

Uefa communications director Mike Lee stressed the sport's European governing body would not be launching a formally enquiry on the basis of a report in the Spanish press.

He said: "If there is any evidence then that should be made available and we will look at it.

"Clearly the integrity of competitions is paramount and if there is any evidence we will look at it."