FRANCE: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Manchester and Lille train ahead of quarter final qualifiers

Record ID: 336067

  • Title: FRANCE: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Manchester and Lille train ahead of quarter final qualifiers
  • Date: 22nd February 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) COACH SIR ALEX FERGUSON, MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, SAYING: "Well I think there a better team this year. I think that it's a fantastic story Lille that we came here I think it was six, seven years ago and a small stadium with big ambitions and now a new stadium, bigger ambitions and their progress to second in the league. It's fantastic. I think w
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0JXOC3H8RK98GNBYPL73ICW0
  • Story Text: The teams will be unable to use the Felix Bollaert stadium, the originally the planned venue, after it was deemed not playable.
    Instead, the rivalling teams had to share the training facilities with their hosts, Lille.
    Manchester have taken a fully fit squad to Northern France and have recalled their first choice goal keeper, Edwin Van Der Sar, who has just recovered from a broken nose to return for the sixteen quarter final.
    All their stars including Christiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney will be staring at the Tuesday night match.
    Lille look to be the underdogs in the battle but expectations are high after they beat their rivals in last years Champions League.
    Lille will also have the advantage of playing at home.
    Unfortunately they will be missing one of their key player, Kader Keita, who has been suspended after receiving three consecutive yellow cards in the previous round.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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