Fergie's 'cracked'

Real Madrid today hit back for the first time at Sir Alex Ferguson's criticism of the Spanish club.

Manchester United visit Madrid tomorrow in the first leg of their European Cup quarter-final and managing director Jorge Valdano said Ferguson's outbursts showed he was "cracking under the pressure".

Ferguson claimed Real's Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos should already be suspended for shoulder-charging the referee during Brazil's 2-1 defeat in Portugal last weekend. Ferguson alleged the undue influence of Real president Florentino Perez had meant UEFA treated the player leniently, leaving him free to face United.

Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque said: "I can hardly believe these attacks. Until now Ferguson's seemed a real man and above all this. Our clubs have a great relationship, which is why I'm so dismayed at what has been said."

Valdano said: "What Ferguson has said only goes to show that anybody can crack under the pressure. He's trying to put pressure on the referee before the game.

"But it genuinely surprises me that such an attack could come from a great manager like him."

Privately, Madrid fear the outburst has caused unnecessary tension. Spanish police expect up to 5,000 ticketless United followers to join the 4,000 who have officially secured entry to the sell-out game.

Ferguson also claimed the draw was fixed to keep Spanish and Italian clubs apart - something UEFA spokesman Mike Lee dismissed simply as "silly".

Sweden's Anders Frisk, who is one of the world's top referees, will take charge of the match.

Juan Sebastian Veron has been ruled out of the Bernabeu clash by the knee-ligament problems he suffered against Leeds last month, while Phil Neville is suspended.