Sir Alex Ferguson has described the atmosphere surrounding the Manchester United team hotel in Leeds on Tuesday afternoon as "frightening".The Premier League champions cruised to a 3-0 victory over their Yorkshire rivals in the Carling Cup third-round tie at Elland Road.
Fourteen supporters have since been charged with varying offences after the night was marred by both sets of fans goading each other with aggressively disrespectful chanting.
United fans held up an 'Istanbul' banner alluding to the two Leeds fans that were killed in Turkey 11 years ago with the home fans retaliating with taunts referring to the 1958 Munich air disaster.
Ferguson revealed the hostility began much earlier in the day as the Red Devils' city centre hotel was surrounded by several police vehicles.
Speaking to reporters the manager drew comparisons with old rivals Liverpool, saying:"Historically, it has been there for a long time.
"I have always said Liverpool-Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects.
"Sometimes supporters can play a bad part in that particular game. But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.
"It was frightening at our hotel. We had seven police vans round the hotel protecting the team.
"I don't know why it is like that. I don't understand it. But it is there and it is not nice."
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