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Man U banks on home record for crucial Porto showdown
Manchester, Mar 09: Manager Alex Ferguson believes home record might be decisive as Manchester United prepare to face Porto in a crucial Champions League return leg.
Manchester, Mar 09: Manager Alex Ferguson believes home record might be decisive as Manchester United prepare to face Porto in a crucial Champions League return leg.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is relying on his side's impressive home record to get past FC Porto on Tuesday (March 9) and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. United, who lost 2-1 in Portugal last month, have won 14 and drawn three of their last 17 Champions League games at Old Trafford. Their last defeat at home in the competition was in October 2001 against Deportivo Coruna. "Well, given the home record, you have to be confident. But in the case of all European games we have here there is a job to be done," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday (March 8). "Given our home record we have to be confident, but as is the case with all the European games we have here, there's a job to be done.
"I don't think we've ever gone into any European tie with anything other than the feeling that we are going to have to work hard and play well and tomorrow is another game in that context."
United captain Roy Keane will miss the game after being sent off in Portugal for standing on Porto goalkeeper Vitor Baia.
Ferguson, who criticised Baia for over-reacting and also said the Porto players were guilty of gamesmanship in the first leg, said he had faith Russian referee Valentin Ivanov would take control of the game.
The United boss expected the goal they scored in the first leg might help them to overcome the current UEFA Cup champions.
"Well, I think that in the nature of the away goals, I think that is going to be vital. I think that what we said is that by scoring the away goal in Porto we gave ourselves a certain type of advantage."
Ferguson added while he was expecting a tough encounter from Porto, but his side would play a lot better than they did on February 25.
"We have to be prepared for everything that can happen at an European game. The most important thing is to impose ourselves which we didn't do in the first match and that's the issue tomorrow night. Manchester United got to impose themselves to ensure they get through this round."
Gary Neville, halfway through a domestic ban, is available for European games and could be joined in defence by France's Mikael Silvestre, who has missed United's last three games with a knee injury.
French striker Louis Saha returns after being cup-tied for Saturday's FA Cup win over Fulham, but South African defender Quinton Fortune is out after knee surgery.
Porto midfielder Pedro Mendes has joined Derlei Silva, Marco Ferreira and Cesar Peixoto on their injury list. Mendes suffered a thigh injury in Porto's 4-1 league win over Belenenses on Friday (March 5) and will be replaced by Russian Dimitri Alenitchev.
Wingers Sergio Conceicao and Brazilian Maciel Cunha are ineligible, but midfielder Francisco Costinha returns from suspension.
Coach Jose Mourinho, whose team are unbeaten domestically and top of the table, ruled out a defensive strategy at Old Trafford.
Probable teams United: 14-Tim Howard; 3-Philip Neville, 2-Gary Neville, 6-Wes Brown, 22-John O'Shea; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 8-Nicky Butt, 18-Paul Scholes, 11-Ryan Giggs; 9-Louis Saha, 10-Ruud Van Nistelrooy Porto: 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Jorge Costa, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 8-Nuno Valente; 6-Francisco Costinha, 18-Maniche Ribeiro, 15-Dimitri Alenitchev, 10-Deco Souza; 19-Carlos Alberto, 77-Benni McCarthy Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
Bureau Report
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is relying on his side's impressive home record to get past FC Porto on Tuesday (March 9) and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. United, who lost 2-1 in Portugal last month, have won 14 and drawn three of their last 17 Champions League games at Old Trafford. Their last defeat at home in the competition was in October 2001 against Deportivo Coruna. "Well, given the home record, you have to be confident. But in the case of all European games we have here there is a job to be done," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday (March 8). "Given our home record we have to be confident, but as is the case with all the European games we have here, there's a job to be done.
"I don't think we've ever gone into any European tie with anything other than the feeling that we are going to have to work hard and play well and tomorrow is another game in that context."
United captain Roy Keane will miss the game after being sent off in Portugal for standing on Porto goalkeeper Vitor Baia.
Ferguson, who criticised Baia for over-reacting and also said the Porto players were guilty of gamesmanship in the first leg, said he had faith Russian referee Valentin Ivanov would take control of the game.
The United boss expected the goal they scored in the first leg might help them to overcome the current UEFA Cup champions.
"Well, I think that in the nature of the away goals, I think that is going to be vital. I think that what we said is that by scoring the away goal in Porto we gave ourselves a certain type of advantage."
Ferguson added while he was expecting a tough encounter from Porto, but his side would play a lot better than they did on February 25.
"We have to be prepared for everything that can happen at an European game. The most important thing is to impose ourselves which we didn't do in the first match and that's the issue tomorrow night. Manchester United got to impose themselves to ensure they get through this round."
Gary Neville, halfway through a domestic ban, is available for European games and could be joined in defence by France's Mikael Silvestre, who has missed United's last three games with a knee injury.
French striker Louis Saha returns after being cup-tied for Saturday's FA Cup win over Fulham, but South African defender Quinton Fortune is out after knee surgery.
Porto midfielder Pedro Mendes has joined Derlei Silva, Marco Ferreira and Cesar Peixoto on their injury list. Mendes suffered a thigh injury in Porto's 4-1 league win over Belenenses on Friday (March 5) and will be replaced by Russian Dimitri Alenitchev.
Wingers Sergio Conceicao and Brazilian Maciel Cunha are ineligible, but midfielder Francisco Costinha returns from suspension.
Coach Jose Mourinho, whose team are unbeaten domestically and top of the table, ruled out a defensive strategy at Old Trafford.
Probable teams United: 14-Tim Howard; 3-Philip Neville, 2-Gary Neville, 6-Wes Brown, 22-John O'Shea; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 8-Nicky Butt, 18-Paul Scholes, 11-Ryan Giggs; 9-Louis Saha, 10-Ruud Van Nistelrooy Porto: 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Jorge Costa, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 8-Nuno Valente; 6-Francisco Costinha, 18-Maniche Ribeiro, 15-Dimitri Alenitchev, 10-Deco Souza; 19-Carlos Alberto, 77-Benni McCarthy Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
Bureau Report