Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he takes the Carling Cup seriously.
Ferguson, with two Cup wins in the last three years, said: "While obviously you don't quite rank it alongside the Premier League or Champions League, I certainly regard it as an extremely valuable tool in our club's strategy.
"I won't have it lightly dismissed. The competition is a stepping stone that has helped groom so many of our emerging players for the serious business of Premier League football."
