Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reluctant to compare Edwin van der Sar with his former No1 Peter Schmeichel.

Fergie said: "They're two different goalkeepers. Edwin is very calm and composed, whereas Peter was a fanatic goalkeeper who let his physical and emotional energies show.

"Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister used to get a terrible time off Schmeichel.

"He would come out and give them a real rollicking and they would say, 'Get back in goal, you Danish so and so'. When they didn't like him they called him a German.

"It's very difficult to compare the two. Schmeichel made saves that were out of this world and his presence was so huge in major games.

"We never thought we'd get a goalkeeper who would get anywhere near Schmeichel but with Edwin we've seen a different type of keeper, a technician.

"Edwin is all about concentration and composure, calming down everyone around him.

"He never looks under pressure, which is a great attribute."