Aston Villa midfielder James Milner admits he's always enjoyed knocking off Manchester United, even when playing for Leeds United U11s!

Milner faces United today at Wembley in the Carling Cup final.

He told the Sunday Times: "When I first started playing for the Leeds United Academy Under-11 team, we would get the fixture list and it was the same for everybody, 'when are we playing Man United?'

"Even as 10-year-olds, we would get up for that game, our parents would be up for it and it was always an important day. I remember when I was young a Boxing Day match against Man United at Elland Road which we won 2-1, all the singing as we walked away from the ground afterwards. That was a happy Christmas. My parents were Leeds fans, uncles the same, and they didn't like Man United. That's the way you were brought up.

"I've always loved playing against Man United. I've always been desperate to win against them, that's the Leeds in me. Every team looks to when they are playing Man United because they are so big and what they've done over the last . . . well, for as long as I can remember, is quite remarkable."