WITCH HUNT

A reputable source was yesterday ringing round RI contacts asking for their reaction to the story that Fergie was to quit by Christmas. Needless to say their request wasn't granted, however the episode ties in with rumours of a whispering campaign against the manager some insist has started within the club.

Fergie only added to the Press' growing belief that he's on his last legs by his gaffe at yesterday's pre-match conference. This from the Sun:

"Their form last season versus Lokomotiv Moscow, Parma and AC Milan was a big step up for them. We certainly will not underestimate them in any shape or form."

Only one problem - he was talking about the wrong side.

They might also come from Israel, but it was Hapoel Tel Aviv who reached the last eight in the UEFA Cup, facing those very same sides he named and also knocking out Chelsea along the way.

Tonight's opponents, Maccabi Haifa, were dumped out in the qualifying stages of the Champions League for fielding ineligible players.

Haifa play in green, Hapoel in red and white and they live about an hour apart.

The teams are staunch rivals, finishing first and second respectively last season in their domestic league.

The dark-haired female questioner from Israel's TV Channel Sport 5+ had put the question to Fergie.

On hearing the answer she frowned and said: "That's a different team."

Ferguson replied: "You mean there's changes?"

Lilach Sonim said: "No it's a different team!"

Fergie frowned: "Oh, sorry, that's the second time I've done that."

Apparently, Ferguson made the same mistake in a separate Press conference to preview this match last week.

He did, however, say they had watched "videos of their matches against Sturm Graz when they won 3-0 and drew 3-3 and did very well."

On this occasion he was spot-on - Maccabi DID beat Graz in the qualifying round to become the first Israeli side to reach the group stage.

But one can only hope he has not had his new sidekick Carlos Queiroz studying Hapoel's UEFA Cup exploits for hours on end in preparation for tonight.

A rather confused Sonim was less than impressed by the whole affair - and reckoned her viewers back in Israel would feel the same.

She said: "I was embarrassed for him. There will be a lot of disappointment about this back home."

The disappointment will be short-lived if United win - they have more fans in Israel than Haifa.

So, with that behind him, it is on to Hapoel, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Maccabi...whoever

1 MACCABI are the first Israeli club to make the Champions League group stages.

2 The club won the Israeli league for the second consecutive year last season.

3 They beat Belshina Bobruisk of Belarus and Austrian side Sturm Graz to reach the group phase.

4 The club's players had threatened to boycott their opening Champions League fixture against United due to a disagreement over bonuses.

5 Walid Badier became the first Israeli to score at Old Trafford when he netted for Wimbledon in a 1-1 draw with United in September 1999. Badier joined Maccabi following Wimbledon's relegation.

6 Maccabi missed out on a qualifier against Liverpool last year after fielding an ineligible player,

7 Due to security concerns, the club have been playing home European games in Cyprus.

8 The squad contains 12 current or former internationals. Of those, eight have represented Israel, two Nigeria, one Lithuania and one Croatia.

9 Maccabi Haifa was formed in 1913 but the team broke up in 1925. The club was reformed by Austrian immigrants in 1939.

10 They have won both league and cup on five occasions