Where Fergie's feuds will fall on deaf ears

In Italy, opposing managers are more likely to share a post-match pizza than throw one at each other. The greater emphasis on tactical awareness in Serie A has created a feeling of brotherhood between the managers.

Most disputes in Italy tend to be philosophical rather than personal, such as Arigo Sacchi's long struggle for supremacy with Giovanni Trapatonni. The two grand old men of Italian football did not get along but would never say so publicly.

The bitterest confrontations in Serie A of recent years have featured Juventus coach Fabio Capello and Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini, stemming from an incident four years ago when Mancini was playing for Fiorentina against Capello's Roma.

Even the sparks from their square-up would struggle to start a small fire, with Mancini admitting he did not like Capello's behaviour and his opposite number responding he was no friend of the inexperienced upstart either. So there.

The situation is similar in Spain, where the contribution of Luis Aragones is usually required for a rumpus.

Such is the Spanish coach's incendiary nature he could start a fight in an empty room but, after English journalists, his real ire is reserved for his successor at At let ico Madrid, Gre gorio Manzano.

Such is his contempt for Manzano that on his return to Madrid two seasons ago with Real Mallorca, Aragones made his way to the visiting dugout via a secret passage, trap-door and underground tunnel to avoid greeting his opposite number. Even Wenger and Ferguson can manage to shake hands.

Most Spanish coaches do not stay in their jobs long enough to cultivate any long-term rivalry, but Javier Clemente's hatred for John Toshack knew no bounds.

As Toshack said of the former Spain coach: "Clemente dreams of me every night, he wakes up every morning thinking of me. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ... I think he's got a virus - Toshitis - and what really hurts him is that I'm not the slightest bit interested in him."

Jose Mourinho had more than his fair share of rucks in Portugal. On the eve of a league game with Sporting last season, the former Porto coach provoked opposite number Fernando Santos by boasting he knew their team and tactics - he was right of course - and the ensuing row slipped over into the game, after which Mourinho was accused off ripping a shirt from an opponent's back in a post-match tunnel scuffle.

Given the Old Trafford tunnel's proud history as a theatre of combat, Chelsea's Carling Cup trip to United next week could have an interesting post-script.