Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has said that he is ready to "fight" Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson when the sides meet at Old Trafford today.

The Spaniard has a famously frosty relationship with his counterpart, dating back to his time as Liverpool boss, and Benitez has said that he will not shirk any potential confrontation this afternoon.

"The manager is there and you are close to them [on the touchline], so if [Ferguson] wants to fight, you have to fight. I don't have any problem with that," The Telegraph quotes Benitez as saying.

"In England, sometimes you talk about mind games, but the mind games are just an excuse when you don't want to talk about the other things.

"I don't like personal confrontation, but obviously you want to stand up [for yourself]."

Benitez looks certain to leave the Blues at the end of the campaign with Schalke 04 reportedly interested in him.

Written by
Paul Gorst