SEEDORF: MANCHESTER UNITED ARE ‘OUTSIDERS’

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Sir Alex Ferguson is planning to make the most of his side's early FA Cup exit by giving his players a welcome break ahead of the last 16 Champions League tie with AC Milan next week.

With the Reds out of the Cup, United have a free weekend to prepare for the trip to the San Siro on Tuesday.

While disappointed not to be involved in the latter stages of the FA Cup, Sir Alex hopes the rest will benefit United's quest for European success.

"In terms of preparing for a European tie we are pleased to have the weekend off," the boss told MUTV.

"We’re going to take full advantage of that – the players will have a couple of days off which they deserve and then we’ll start working on Saturday."

Having played over an hour at Villa Park with ten men, Darren Fletcher admits a weekend off could not have been better timed.

"Of course, we'd like to still be in the FA Cup but after playing the majority of the Villa game with ten men this weekend will be a welcome break," the midfielder told MUTV.

"If we had to play at the weekend and then play AC Milan it would have been tough – but we’ve got the squad to deal with that and the manager would have made changes.

"Nevertheless, it’s a nice break and the lads will be delighted to get a rest before a massive game against Milan."

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Gary Neville and Clarence Seedorf have cranked up the tension ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown between AC Milan and Manchester United. Milan midfielder Seedorf dismissed Manchester United as “outsiders” while Neville said his team will not be distracted by facing old boy David Beckham.

United have reached the last two Champions League finals, but Seedorf believes they are not the same force without Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and the injured Nemanja Vidic.

He said: “United are one of the outsiders to win the competition. Chelsea are my favourites to win the European Cup this season.”

Seedorf, a four-time winner of the competition, believes Beckham will cope with the pressure and emotion of facing his old club.

He added: “He has coped with pressure throughout his career. I hope people will applaud him.”

Neville says United will not get caught up in the publicity circus that will surround Beckham over the two legs.

And though he remains one of Beckham’s best friends and was best man at his wedding, there will be no room for sentiment.

Neville said: “It won’t be that strange really to line up against him. We have played against former team-mates like my brother Phil and Nicky Butt, so you get used to it.”