Sir Alex Ferguson would never allow photographers access to Manchester United's training sessions like at Manchester City. City have hit the headlines after pictures emerged yesterday of a training ground fracas between Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli.
City's problem is that their training ground has a public pathway running alongside, offering photographers easy access.
Though United are based less than a mile away, public access is strictly limited.
"You are protecting the possibility of success," Ferguson said.
"Do ICI send an email to another bio chemicals company telling them their new discoveries in drugs? Does any major company tell its opponents what they are doing? I am sure they don't.
"Unfortunately football has a media profile which means cameramen want to be at training sessions. I think that is ridiculous but it makes it very difficult for a coach to do their work because you don't know where the information can go.
"I think it stopped at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, but there are some places where the press are in every day. This is what they expect.
"I know it happens in Italy. I don't know how you can do your tactical work.
"Fortunately, at our place, we can guard against it to a decent degree," Ferguson added, before joking: "Sometimes we get a photographer wandering over in the woods - but we can put wolves in there!"
