A night out with Posh for Fergie and son in a friendly family meeting

When David Beckham left Manchester United for Real Madrid, Posh was supposed to be the reason. On Monday night, with Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to make the same journey without the blessing of Sir Alex Ferguson, Posh were the opponents.

It was a Ferguson family affair at Peterborough's London Road, Sir Alex versus Darren, the perfect distraction for the Manchester United manager before he confronts the looming problem of Ronaldo, due back at Old Trafford on Tuesday to resolve his future.

Fergie Jnr took his seat in the directors' box alongside his director of football, Barry Fry, and saw his team compete well with the European champions, who included Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez, Patrice Evra, Wes Brown and Nani in a strong starting line-up.

His father settled into his seat on the bench, keeping a distance to offer the illusion of competition. Asked ahead of the game what he would do if they ever faced each other for real, Sir Alex laughed. 'I would have to retire,' he joked.

Peterborough, known as the Posh, should have taken the lead before a bizarre own goal, off the chest of Russell Martin and through the clutches of goalkeeper Joe Lewis, gifted the visitors the lead just before half-time. Midfielder Darron Gibson stretched the advantage with a 30-yard effort after 68 minutes.

Darren has impressed as Peterborough boss, winning promotion in his first full season, and Sir Alex said his son's managerial tendencies had been evident for years.

'He used to write lengthy reports about Aberdeen and their performances, and it was obvious reading them that, from a young age, he had a good understanding of the game,' the United manager said.

'He also had several good family traits from myself and his mother, and these certainly helped him as a manager.

'He is determined and confident and, like his dad, he doesn't like to be beaten. I have always impressed on him the qualities of management but he has his own mind and, for a long time, it was clear he would have a good career in the game after he finished playing.'

Cold comfort: Sir Alex Ferguson samples the delights of London Road

Despite operating in the muck and nettles far beneath Old Trafford, Darren has been busily collecting managerial experience at Peterborough, winning promotion and backing his judgment to smash a club transfer record to sign keeper Lewis from Norwich for £400,000. By the end of last season, Lewis had been called into the England squad.

In many ways the Fergusons face similar pressures. Fry says he wants the League One title this term and ambitious young chairman Darragh MacAnthony talks impatiently of his club's elevation to the Barclays Premier League.

At least, Darren has succeeded where his dad failed by signing Torres this summer - that's Sergio from Wycombe rather than Fernando from Liverpool. The fee was £150,000.

He also won his own Ronaldo-style stand-off, resisting a £2million bid from Wolves for Peterborough's 33- goal top scorer last season, Aaron McLean, with a little help from MacAnthony's fortune. McLean committed his future to the club by signing a four-year deal last week.

Perhaps Darren dare even offer advice to his father, who has played it ultra cool in public since flying to Lisbon for talks with Ronaldo three weeks ago.

The Portugal forward has maintained a deafening silence in recent weeks but he will definitely remain at Old Trafford, according to the United boss. Real Madrid refuse to give up the chase, however, and the thorny subject refuses to go away.

Without naming Ronaldo, Fergie Snr offered a timely reminder that he has been in this business for many years and has engaged in plenty of duels with egotistical footballers. He has not lost many.

'If you allow yourself to be affected by the star-status thing, then that's when your difficulties begin,' said Sir Alex. 'You can only achieve success when the players want to please you and not the other way around.

'Some people fall into the trap of trying to keep players happy all the time and allow powerful personalities in the dressing room to rule the roost, but that's not management.

'It doesn't matter whether you're managing East Stirling or Manchester United, you have to remember two things. Firstly, you've got to have them trying their utmost to win for you and, secondly, you've got to have control and discipline over them. Anything else and you're fighting against the wind.'

Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 32, retired from international football last night after winning 64 caps for Holland.