Diego Tristan has pleaded for "respect" from Manchester United supporters before tomorrow's Champions League encounter. But the Deportivo La Coruna striker says he is not worrying about the reception he will be given by the Old Trafford crowd.
Tristan committed the notorious foul on David Beckham in last week's first leg which might have ended the England midfielder's season. But Beckham's ankle escaped serious injury and he will help United defend their 2-0 lead tomorrow.
"They have attached more importance to this than it deserves," Tristan said yesterday. "It was an incident in which I arrived a little late but it was just one incident in the game.
"I have already asked his forgiveness on the pitch and through the English media and that should be the end of everything.
"Those that know me know it wasn't a very normal reaction from me. I am hurt by how everything has spiralled.
"It's all the same to me how they receive me. Everything is over now and the way they acknowledge me isn't all that important to me.
"I just hope that United and their fans respect us and we can give them the same treatment they gave us last week."
Deportivo have not given up hope of reaching the semi-finals. "To win this tie looks like we're attempting the impossible," Tristan said, "but though it will be complicated and difficult I don't think it is impossible."
The Deportivo manager Javier Irureta has reminded his players of the privileges of their position and the responsibilities that go with it. "We should have no problems about motivation," he claimed.
"Of course we have to play well. We're not playing against anyone - it's Manchester United. I never had the chance to play at Old Trafford and I had a long and successful career as a player."
Tristan's role will be vital. "I want us to go out and score goals," Irureta said. "We'll keep on trying until they've hit us on the head and left us for dead."
Chelsea's coach Claudio Ranieri said yesterday that he felt flattered to be mentioned as a possible target for Barcelona but added that "all I'm thinking about is getting the side in the Champions League and through to the FA Cup final".
Barcelona's vice-president Angel Fernandez told a Catalan radio station at the weekend that they had already contacted five potential replacements for Carles Rexach, naming Ranieri, Irureta, Fabio Capello of Roma, Hector Cuper of Internazionale and Carlos Bianchi. But another director, Joan Castells, denied the story yesterday.
"I hate to contradict what my friend said but it's not true," Castells told a rival radio station. "I'm not saying there has been no contact at all, but there clearly hasn't been as much as my colleague has said."
Fifa has borrowed £300m against projected sponsorship income from the next two World Cups, the governing body's vice-president Chung Mong-joon claimed.
The Korean said that he supports Issa Hayatou in his campaign to unseat the president Sepp Blatter because Blatter has involved Fifa in financial problems and scandals.
The figure of $420m Chung quoted accords approximately to reports of Fifa's borrowing from a Swiss bank this year and last year. "As I understand, this is against Fifa rules," Chung said. "This is the first time Fifa has had to borrow from future revenue and many people are seriously concerned."
