Chris Wilder has slapped a ban on Boro players swapping shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United stars.
The Middlesbrough squad are on a warning not to go celebrity-shirt-collecting on the Old Trafford pitch in the FA Cup on Friday night.
Wilder wants his stars to make it “dangerous” for Ralf Rangnick’s side and says they are not on a “sight-seeing tour”.
The Boro boss says it “wouldn’t be the biggest shock, but it would be a shock” if his Championship promotion hopefuls turned over United.
And he vowed: “We won’t be going all fuzzy eyed when their team sheet lands.”
Have Your Say! Can Boro pull off a shock at Old Trafford? Tell us your prediction here.
Wilder oversaw a win for Sheffield United at Old Trafford during their second Premier League season in January last year, and is trying to mastermind a repeat for the Teessiders.
He has pledged that Boro won’t be “sitting back on the cross bar.”
Ambitious Wilder said: “Their team sheet will come in the dressing room and it’ll be De Gea, Varane, Harry Maguire… let’s not crumble in that process!
“They have some fabulous individuals that can hurt you, and hurt teams around Europe and the Premier League. A huge array of talent to choose from.
“But it is not sight-seeing for our players. It is not a shirt-swapping situation.
“I don’t want people going to Old Trafford to enjoy the visit.
“If they want a shirt, do it in the changing rooms after. We don’t want to be looking at them all fuzzy-eyed. They are up against a competitor.
“I want them to play well. To give a good account of themselves and make it a competitive dangerous night for Manchester United.
“If we play well we can do. If not it will be a comfortable night for Manchester United. No one wants that, me included.”
Wilder has revived Boro’s fortunes since taking over from Neil Warnock in November, winning eight of his 12 games in charge with just two defeats.
Boro are taking 9,000 fans to the North West and Wilder added:
“The clichés from 100 year come up, “underdogs with nothing to lose”. But we have got things to lose. We want to do ourselves justice and players who want to put themselves up against the best in Europe.
“This is an obligation to play well for our 9,000 fans at the game and those watching on TV. We want to give them something to shout about and give them that shock that does happen, you can’t get away from it, it does happen. It won’t be the biggest of cup shocks but it would be a shock.
“There is a glint in the eye from the boys. Motivation levels are big. Playing in front of 75,000 is something they want. We want to go to Old Trafford on a regular basis in the seasons to come.
“We need a structure and a shape so we are not picked off by world-class players but we will have an opportunity to play and we won’t be sitting on the crossbar for 95 minutes.
“We have to be ambitious and aggressive when we have a chance to cause them problems.”
With West Brom looking for a new boss after Valerien Ismael was sacked, Wilder has confirmed he held talks with them in the summer. Steve Bruce could succeed Ismael.
Wilder revealed: “There were quite lengthy discussions that took place. That club wanted to take a different path. It was my decision to leave (Sheffield United) and it was my attitude to go back to work quickly.
“There were a couple of situations I was interested in and discussion took place but you respect the decisions people make and I moved on.
“I am now working for a really good football club, and looking forward to working here for a number of years. It was a sliding door moment and everything for a reason.”
