BRIAN Kidd today spoke of his great debt to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

But the Rovers boss also stressed that the Ewood long-term future was more important than one game against his old club.

And he insisted his angry weekend words had not been designed simply to galvanise his players for tomorrow's crucial game.

He said: "I have experienced it, when I was with Manchester United, how teams find that extra yard. But that puts a question mark against those so-called teams.

"They should be doing that week in week out. The thing about great teams like Manchester United and Arsenal is their work ethic, allied to their ability.

"You do it for nine months of the year, that's how you prove your mettle, not just by winning one game.

"That's why Manchester United are a great team and a credit to themselves.

"But there are more important things to me than the Manchester United game.

"Where do we go from here? Have we got the answers to the problems?

"Everybody knows the respect and admiration I have for the gaffer and for the faith he had in me. I am deeply grateful for the chance he gave me. I owe the man."

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