UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks forward to a 'big' Champions League game against Benfica and says finishing top of the group would be a bonus

Record ID: 336406

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks forward to a 'big' Champions League game against Benfica and says finishing top of the group would be a bonus
  • Date: 22nd November 2011
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 21, 2011) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS TRAINING UNITED MANAGER SIR ALEX FERGUSON WATCHING TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER SIR ALEX FERGUSON SAYING OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPPONENTS BENFICA "Absolutely. It's a big game. It's a game which we recognise as a real European game with the history
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2011 12:00
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  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA70HOV9TROTFC1AQ30XPYGGJPS
  • Story Text: Manchester United have improved their concentration levels in keeping five successive clean sheets and like Benfica will have only one thing on their minds on Tuesday (November 22) with both clubs able to wrap up qualification for the Champions League knockout stage.
    Manager Sir Alex Ferguson's side have tightened up since October's 6-1 drubbing by Premier League leaders Manchester City, with the manager saying that game had been a "wake-up call".
    At a news conference in Manchester on Monday he said Tuesday's match would be big.
    "...It's a big game. It's a game which we recognise as a real European game with the history of Benfica and ourselves and the number of great games we have had in the past of course always sticks in your memory bank. Our latest or last encounter against them which we lost 2-1 over there, but the performance in the first game I thought we did really well, possession-wise it was good, I thought that we deserved the result you know until the last 15 minutes when they threatened quite a bit, Benfica. It is a really interesting game for both teams always both will want to win, so it should make an open match and hopefully we will get the result we want," said Ferguson.
    United and Benfica both have eight points in Group C, but the English club leads on goal difference.
    Victory for either on Tuesday would put that side through to the knockout stage as group winners with a game to spare. A draw would send both through if FC Basel lose to Otelul Galati.
    Ferguson commented on Monday: "Well that is probably is the bonus out of it, you hope that you do finish top. First of all you mentioned certain teams there, that is obviously one issue but the most important one is the second game is at Old Trafford; I think that is always an advantage. So therefore, you know, it has always been our intention to finish top. It has not always been the case, we have finished second several times, but with the quality of the teams, it does not make a great difference, but it can make a little difference. I think the main advantage, to my mind anyways is for the second game to be at Old Trafford."
    United winger Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, better known as Nani, used to play for Sporting Clube de Portugal and he told Monday's news conference that playing Benfica then was like a Manchester derby.
    "Yes of course I used to play against Benfica and the games used to be like Man United against (Man) City, always tough games and of course I enjoyed when I win the games against Benfica and I hope tomorrow we can win again," said Nani.
    Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney sat out training on Monday (November 21) but should be fit for their Champions League match at home to Benfica, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on the eve of the game.
    The England international, who has scored nine league goals this season, played the whole of Saturday's 1-0 win at Swansea City in the Premier League.
    Speaking about injuries, Ferguson said: "Well, we have got one or two knocks from Saturday. Jonny Evan's got a little tightness in his hamstring yesterday, but hopefully he will be OK by tomorrow. Wayne Rooney got a few knocks on Saturday, he missed training today, but he should be ok for is tomorrow. Chris Smalling trained this morning, but won't be available for tomorrow, but should be OK for Saturday."
    The return from injury of captain Nemanja Vidic to marshal the heart of defence has coincided with the improvement, but United will not be able to count on him against Benfica while he serves the second of a two-match ban.
    In his absence, Rio Ferdinand is likely to be partnered by Jonny Evans as last season's runners-up seek to qualify from the group stage for a sixth consecutive year.
    United have also had problems in midfield due to injuries, with Ferguson resorting to deploying Rooney in a central role in November's 2-0 win over Galati in their last European game, but they are now looking in better shape.
    Benfica are unbeaten on their European travels this season, but that may count for little at Old Trafford, where United have lost only once in their last 34 Champions League games there dating back to 2005.
    The clubs, who are old rivals with United having beaten the Portuguese side when they won their first European Cup in 1968, drew 1-1 in Portugal in their group opener in September.
    The recent performances of Spain under-21 international Rodrigo will give Benfica coach Jorge Jesus a welcome headache over who to pick to spearhead Benfica's attack on Tuesday.
    The 20-year-old has stolen the show in their last four matches, scoring each of his team's five goals and standing out with his above-average flair and awareness.
    Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo nevertheless remains the natural first choice up front and is Benfica's top scorer in the league and Champions League.
    Probable teams: Manchester United: 1-David de Gea; 4-Phil Jones, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 6-Jonny Evans, 3-Patrice Evra; 25-Antonio Valencia, 24-Darren Fletcher, 16-Michael Carrick, 18-Ashley Young; 10-Wayne Rooney, 14-Javier Hernandez Benfica: 1-Artur; 14-Maxi Pereira, 4-Luisao, 24-Ezequiel Garay, 3-Emerson; 6-Javi Garcia, 28-Axel Witsel, 8-Bruno Cesar, 20-Nicolas Gaitan; 10-Pablo Aimar, 7-Oscar Cardozo Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
    GROUP C
    P W D L F A Pts
    Manchester United 4 2 2 0 8 4 8
    Benfica 4 2 2 0 5 2 8
    Basel 4 1 2 1 6 7 5
    Otelul Galati 4 0 0 4 1 7 0
    Qualifying chances: The winner of the Manchester United-Benfica match is guaranteed a place in the last 16. A draw would take both through if Otelul beat Basel.
    MANCHESTER UNITED v BENFICA
    Head-to-head record
    Played: 8
    Wins: United 6, Benfica 1, draws 1
    Previous matches
    EC: QF 2/02/66 Manchester United 3 Benfica 2
    9/03/66 Benfica1 Manchester United 5
    EC: FL 29/05/68 Manchester United 4 Benfica 1
    (after extra time, in London)
    CL: GP 27/09/05 Manchester United 2 Benfica 1
    7/12/05 Benfica2 Manchester United 1
    CL: GP 26/09/06 Benfica0 Manchester United 1
    6/12/06 Manchester United 3 Benfica 1
    CL: GP 14/09/11 Benfica1 Manchester United 1
    * United have lost only one of their last 35 European home games, winning 25 of them. They have never lost at home to a Portuguese club and have won eight out of 10 such matches.
    * United have used 23 different players in this season's competition, more than any other team.
    * Benfica are unbeaten in their last eight European games and have been defeated only once in the last 16.
    * Benfica have won three of their last six games in England and have scored at least once on each of their last seven visits.
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