Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for his reckless high tackle that earned a straight red card in Thursday's Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev.
Manager Roberto Mancini had already branded his player's challenge "stupid" and said he was unlikely to be in the squad to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but Balotelli sought to smooth things over.
"It was not my intention to hurt anyone," he said on the club's website. "The tackle was poor and I'm very sorry to my team mates in particular that I got sent off so early in such an important game."
"All three games we lost against Man City [while I have been manager] we have lost due to counter attacks," he said on the club's website.
"Man City will try to do the same on Sunday, they are very dangerous in counter-attacks and obviously we want to avoid this. We do this by maintaining a good balance on the pitch because we want to play our football as well."
"Rio has got plenty of years ahead of him," Ferguson said on the club website ahead of the league leaders' game against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
"He's had a few injuries over the last few years which I'm sure are a concern for him, but he's still capable.
"He only needs to look at the example of Gary Neville. Gary suffered with injuries in his 30s and made comebacks time and time again."
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu has won his battle to be fit for Saturday's visit of Arsenal after missing two weeks with a calf problem, the club said on their website.
Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas is fit to face West Ham United in Saturday's derby at White Hart Lane after fears he had picked up a hamstring injury in training.
"William joined in (training) and he was fine," said manager Harry Redknapp after the Frenchman had limped off on Tuesday.
