Reading boss Stam plots upset on Man United return

Jaap Stam returns to Manchester United today with the Reading manager plotting an FA Cup giant-killing at the club that sold him when he fell out with Alex Ferguson

Reading manager Jaap Stam

London: Jaap Stam returns to Manchester United today with the Reading manager plotting an FA Cup giant-killing at the club that sold him when he fell out with Alex Ferguson.

The 44-year-old Dutch former defender, who won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the 1999 Champions League during his three-year stay at United, has impressed by guiding Reading to the cusp of promotion to the Premier League. However, his "Royals" confront a United side that are FA Cup holders and are on run of seven successive victories in all competitions.

Stam, whose biography sparked the falling-out with Ferguson and saw him sold to Lazio, said the weekend cup third-round clash was not about him. "Of course we're looking forward to it. It's a great draw, not only for me, but also for the players," Stam said. "To play at Old Trafford in front of 80,000 people in the FA Cup which everybody wants to win, it's going to be nice. 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. We're not saying we don't have a chance. Everybody has a chance. It's not about me, it's about Reading facing United at Old Trafford."

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