Reading manager Jaap Stam has confessed that he still loves Manchester United.

Stam was a cult hero at United during his three-year stay at Old Trafford but the Dutchman was unceremoniously sold by the Red Devils in 2001 after he made derogatory comments regarding manager Sir Alex Ferguson in his autobiography.

Now the Dutchman prepares to return to United as manager of Reading for their FA Cup third-round clash on Saturday and ahead of the encounter, the 44-year-old has stated that he still has a special place in his heart for the Red Devils as well as the club's supporters.

Stam told Reading's official website: "It'll be good to be back in Manchester. I still love the club, I love the fans, I had a great time over there and it's going to be good to be going back in this way, as Reading manager for this cup tie.

"We're facing a great team, a great manager - I like how he works and what he does for his team, how we gets things going...and the career that he has made, the trophies that he has won - I admire that.

"So it's not going to be easy. But we'll give it our best shot. And we'll see. We're not saying we don't have a chance. Everybody has a chance. But it's important that we prepare well for the game and hopefully we can do well and enjoy it.

"We're looking forward to it. It's a great draw, not only for me, but also for the players. To play at Old Trafford in front of 80,000 people, against quality players in the FA Cup - a competition everyone wants to do well in, a trophy everybody wants to win, it's going to be nice."