Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson said he has no intention of toning down his team's attacking brand of football when it takes on Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan today.
"I think Jose has seen enough of us to know we don't go out not trying to win and it will be the same tomorrow," Ferguson told reporters.
Earlier in the day Mourinho said he believed United's defensive problems would cause the team to adopt a more pragmatic approach than normal.
"I'm not saying they're scared of us, but they respect us. I don't think they'll come with their usual approach," Mourinho said. "They will change more than us."
"I doubt they will play with (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Wayne) Rooney, (Carlos) Tevez and (Dimitar) Berbatov, as they often do in the Premier League. They aren't coming to San Siro to win."
Alex Ferguson's side is currently facing a defensive crisis. Nemanja Vidic is suspended, Gary Neville and Wes Brown are injured and doubts remain about the fitness of Johnny Evans and John O'Shea. Midfielder Michael Carrick may even be pressed into duty as a makeshift center back.
Ferguson said that nothing had been decided and that he would make a decision on the day of the match.
"Obviously we have some injuries and we won't know until tomorrow (whether the players will be fit). O'Shea did a light session on his own and Johnny Evans didn't train. Everyone else who travelled trained.
"With Gary Neville and Wes Brown injured and Nemanja Vidic suspended for the game it is a worrying moment for us. I hope one will be OK, probably O'Shea. But that leaves us with a problem at right back, probably young (Fabio) De Silva (will play)."
In Mourinho, Inter has a coach who knows well how to beat United.
During his time in charge of Chelsea, he lost only one of 10 matches with United and also beat United twice on the way to winning the Champions League with Porto in 2004.
"When we were drawn against them I was happy because we know that we have a difficult opponent ahead of us. But I know that I don't need a big opponent to motivate my players. I'm 100 per cent certain we can do it," he said.
Ferguson played down the history between them and said that what matters is how the team performs today.
"I don't think about the defeats to different managers. One defeat in 12 depends on how you look at it. It wasn't as though we lost all 11 games, if it was I'd worry. What matters is tomorrow night."
Like Ferguson, Mourinho has a few worries over his central defensive pairing. However, he has no such fears further up the field and said his team's midfield and attack would be the same as started the Milan derby.
"We will play a midfield diamond, with (Esteban) Cambiasso, (Javier) Zanetti, (Dejan) Stankovic and (Sulley) Muntari, with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and Adriano in attack. In defense, definitely (Davide) Santon and Maicon. The choice of the center backs depends and without (Walter) Samuel everyone else has a chance."
