Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc insists he never was in the running for the assistant manager's job at Manchester United.

Blanc told So Foot: "No, that's wrong. I am in touch with (Sir Alex) Ferguson quite a lot; we inform each other about our club's performances and about French or English players.

"Besides I'm always surprised by his knowledge of French players.

"His confidence in his assistants is fantastic; he let [Carlos] Queiroz leave twice for his personal development because he has an English mentality.

"I'm not sure this could have happened in France or Italy, it wouldn't have been the same thing, they would have asked for money. But what he's done is beautiful."

The Frenchman was then asked about his future and said: "At the moment I'm Girondins de Bordeaux's coach. As a consequence, there's no question to ask about it."