With a Champions League Last 16 place already secured
for the Reds, Sir Alex Ferguson says there is much less pressure on
his injury-hit squad and the young players drafted in as
cover.
United take on Wolfsburg in the Volkswagen Arena on
Tuesday night with Group B’s top spot up for grabs, but Sir Alex
says he cannot see a clear advantage in finishing first and so has
turned his attentions to preserving his side for the busy Christmas
league programme.
“Wolfsburg will be delighted that we have so many injuries because
it’s a big game for them,” the boss in Germany on Monday. “My main
concern is getting players back from injury. I have to look at the
bigger picture and that means looking to Saturday [against Aston
Villa] and future league games.”
It goes without saying that the United players will be doing their
utmost to win in Germany, but the quality and unpredictably of this
year’s European tournament means that finishing second is much less
of a stumbling block than it might be in other years.
“We’ve qualified for the Last 16, and looking at the groups I’m not
sure whether first or second really matters,” said the boss. “So
that is a major boost to us. If we are second, I don’t know if it
does matter.
“In one group you’ve potentially got AC Milan or Real Madrid, in
another you’ve got Barcelona, Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan, another
you have Fiorentina and Lyon, or Bordeaux, Bayern and Juventus. You
get one of those teams and it doesn’t really matter. They’re all of
a similar quality - very good teams.
“The only advantage you’re giving away by finishing second is
playing the home game first in the knockout round.”