Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his conduct on Boxing Day, and launched a withering attack on counterpart Alan Pardew and labelled Newcastle a "wee club." The Scottish tactician has been heavily criticised for his behaviour in the 4-3 win in which he was seen to remonstrate with referee Mike Dean and his assistants.
But Ferguson said: "I was demonstrative but I was not out of order. The press have had a field day. The only person they have not spoken to is Barack Obama because he is busy.
"It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north east.
"I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. But I was not abusive.
"I shouted Mike over. We walked towards each other. I was only on (the pitch) three or four yards. That has been overplayed.
"The problem for me is that the profile of this club is huge.
"Alan Pardew has come out and criticised me. He is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How he can criticise me is unbelievable. He forgets the help I gave him, by the way."
