“The Champions League game with Manchester United is going to be massive, especially for me because they are a team I know pretty well,” Pires told setantasports.com.
“For sure it is going to be a spectacular game because they have such a good team that you always want to emulate.
“Of course I am very happy to welcome them at the Madrigal. There is no hate between me and them, journalists are the only ones that believe in this.
“There is respect between me and them, and you know what the word ‘respect’ means in English – a lot.”
He added: “To be honest I admire what they achieved last season and what they are going to achieve in the next seasons, even if Arsenal are going to beat them, Liverpool and Chelsea as well (laughs).”
