Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he has no problems with Carlos Tevez, despite publicly backing Roberto Mancini over his row with the Argentinian.

Ferguson has supported Mancini's decision to suspend Tevez following the striker's alleged refusal to play during Manchester City's Champions League tie with Bayern Munich earlier this month.

The Scot is adamant he never had a problem with Tevez during his two year spell at Old Trafford, even after the 27-year-old made his controversial switch across Manchester.

"I am not saying this to have a go at Carlos. There will be cynics who will say I have it in for him because of the circumstances through which he left Old Trafford under something of a cloud," said Ferguson.

"I never had a problem with Carlos, and I am only speaking critically of him now because of my understanding of the difficult job all managers face."

United face City in the Manchester derby this afternoon.