Fergie loves derby drama

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has an abiding affection for derby matches.

The Manchester United manager enjoyed one such encounter at the weekend when his high-flying side defeated Blackburn, and he has another local fixture after the two-week international break when his side face Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

"You cannot beat derby games, the spice of it all," he said at the North West Football Awards ceremony. "London clubs have been complaining their derbies were killing them. Up here, you have seven of them and it is fantastic."

Blackburn and Bolton are one of seven clubs in the north west in the Barclays Premier League, along with United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton and Wigan.

Ferguson added: "To be involved in them is great. You can sense the atmosphere and the anticipation.

"The supporters go into work, arguing with each other and boasting. It is fantastic.

"Over the years, clubs like Bolton and Wigan have come into the Premier League and that is something people here should be proud of."

Ferguson is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for a vibrant United squad. They are in a rich vein of form and shrugged off the loss of England striker Wayne Rooney to defeat Blackburn thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson said: "The potential is there. We have a bigger squad with more quality than we've had before. But the players are going to be measured by everyone outside Manchester United by the trophies they win and the way they do it."

On the current squad emulating the class of 1999 who won the treble, Ferguson added: "That was a special team. It will be very hard to do that."