Aalborg v Manchester United:ALEX FERGUSON has brought an end to diplomatic relations with the press and promised it will remain that way until he leaves Manchester United.

"You will never get any help out of me again," he said, expletives removed, addressing football writers who had flown to Denmark for tonight's Champions League game against Aalborg.

Ferguson was addressing a grudge he had since United's pre-season trip to South Africa, when he gave an interview in which he highlighted the number of players at Chelsea who were aged 30 and above and questioned how much improvement could be expected of a team that age. He was angry when this was reported in newspapers as him talking of Chelsea as an "old team". "I gave you access in South Africa and I shouldn't have given you access," he said. "It won't happen again. From now on, no matter how many miles you travel to get an interview, you won't get one."

Ferguson was compelled to attend Uefa's mandatory pre-match press conference.

Ferguson intends to learn from past mistakes and unleash all his big guns on Aalborg tonight. It is only two years since Manchester United last went to Denmark to tackle FC Copenhagen in the fourth game of their Champions League group. With qualification virtually in the bag, Ferguson fielded a weakened team and promptly lost. Having drawn their opening game against Villarreal at Old Trafford, Ferguson knows his defending champions cannot afford another slip-up. So Aalborg can get ready to face Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

"I don't have any fears about complacency with this side," said Ferguson. "But a couple of years ago we made a mistake with the team against Copenhagen because we were in a comfortable position and ended up scrapping to qualify. This time I will play my strongest team. We need to get to February because that is when the tournament really takes off."

Aalborg skipper Thomas Augustinussen confirmed he had never seen as many journalists as the throng that came to hear him speak ahead of the game.

The match provides the perfect stage for Berbatov to announce his arrival as a United player. The Bulgarian has hardly had a chance in his three games since a club record €38.6 million switch from Tottenham. Ferguson will make changes from the side which beat Bolton in controversial circumstances. Skipper Gary Neville has remained at home to rest a thigh strain, while Owen Hargreaves is still troubled by a knee injury.

Guardian Service