Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he gets along well with Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini.

Ferguson - never one to be undermined by his ­players - empathised with Mancini over the Carlos Tevez saga.

He no doubt also felt a tad relieved that his reservations about the Argentine striker ­appeared vindicated.

Even United's 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Mancini's side in October could not impair their relationship or undermine Ferguson's adherence to the managers' code.

The Scot said: "There's no reason why you can't get on with other managers because we have got the same job.

"It's a difficult job and I respect ­managers who commit themselves the way most of the managers in the ­Premier League do.

"Why we are in it, I couldn't tell you. Maybe it's because it's the only thing we know - the only thing we want to know. It's that driven love that exists ­between us all that makes us want to stay in it."