Advocaat hails Sir Alex as world's best

ZENIT St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson as the best manager in the world.

The Russian champions face Manchester United in the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco tonight where Advocaat will come up against Old Trafford manager Ferguson for the first time.

Zenit are in Monaco courtesy of their Uefa Cup final win over Advocaat's former side Rangers in Manchester last season, while United's Champions League victory over Chelsea in Moscow was Ferguson's second triumph in the competition and represented yet another landmark in a trophy-filled career. Advocaat, speaking in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw where his side were placed in Group H alongside Real Madrid and Juventus, insists Ferguson's record and abilities transcends Europe.

He said: "He's not just the top manager in Europe – he's top of the world. You can't work at that level and stay with one club for so long if you do not have exceptional qualities, it is so difficult. So, for me, he is the best manager in the world and the one everyone else has to look up to. I know Sir Alex, but I haven't played against him, so I am looking forward to the game which I know will be very difficult."

Advocaat confirmed unsettled striker Andrei Arshavin, who has been continually linked with Tottenham, has travelled with the Zenit squad along with new signing Danni, who joined from Dinamo Moscow for a Russian record fee of 30 million.

Advocaat, however, was reluctant to discuss Arshavin's chances of playing in the prestige match. He said: "He is with us, but I will see tomorrow if he plays or not, I have not yet made up my mind."

But the Zenit manager did confirm striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who missed Euro 2008 because of knee problems, will feature against the English and European champions.

Advocaat's respect for Ferguson is fully reciprocated with the United manager saying: "What he is doing there is fantastic. The Dutch have always been travellers in football and do not mind coaching anywhere. That is a great asset to have.

"Dick, for his part, has been in places as far apart as Glasgow and St Petersburg. When he was in charge of Holland he was one of the best at understanding the dilemma of a club manager. He has proved to be a successful and competent coach – you just have to look at his record with Zenit."

Ferguson took in their victory against Rangers in the final in Manchester and believes they were out on their own in the tournament. He said: "Zenit were the best team in the competition. They overcame Leverkusen and Bayern Munich on the way as well. You tend to take notice of results like that and their attacking play captured a lot of people's attention. But we want to win this trophy. While there is no pressure on either team, there is a lot of prestige."

Indeed, Ferguson admits he did not give the Super Cup the respect it deserved nine years ago. Still heady from the remarkable European Cup victory against Bayern Munich, he saw his side go down 1-0 to Italians Lazio. Now Ferguson is determined to make amends.

He said: "The last time we came here, for some reason I played a weakened team. We had a lot of reserves in our line-up as we had a Monday game to follow against Newcastle. When I saw Lazio celebrating as if they had won the World Cup, I thought: 'That won't happen again.'

"I will play a much stronger team tomorrow – although there will be some changes – and we will represent the club in the right way."

Gary Neville, expected to captain the side against the Russians, was part of that 1999 side and claims it was a painful experience. He said: "The game tomorrow is extremely important. We did not realise that a few years ago. There are no league games to distract us, so there is no excuse this time. We need to go out and get the victory as this is a prestigious game and one we want to win. There is a great incentive for us."

United go into the match on the back of a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Monday which followed their draw on the opening day. Ferguson welcomes back Owen Hargreaves after injury and Nani, who missed the opening matches through suspension. Hargreaves has recovered from tendinitis and will get some time on the pitch to help him build up his fitness.

However, Ferguson has urged England manager Fabio Capello to refrain from naming the midfielder in his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

Meanwhile, Ferguson is no further forward in his bid to bring in new faces with Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov his top target. Speaking generally, he added: "I am less optimistic today than recent days. I have no idea what is going to happen."