Just like last season Manchester United FC find themselves in a
do-or-die duel with SL Benfica but according to Sir Alex Ferguson,
this time they have only themselves to blame. Successive defeats at
FC København and Celtic FC have left United needing a point to
progress from Group F against Portuguese visitors who proved their
nemesis 12 months ago prompting the manager to bemoan his club's
seeming fondness for "doing it the hard way".
Last time
Benfica came from behind to beat United 2-1 in Lisbon on 7 December
last year, denying them a place in the UEFA Champions League
knockout stage for the first time since 1994/95. "Our pride was
terribly hurt," recalled Sir Alex, who believes that setback acted
as a spur to his players, who in 55 games since have won 38 and
lost just eight. "Sometimes out of bad comes good. I think we are
playing better - there is no question about that. Our form has been
excellent." According to Benfica coach Fernando Santos, United are
"a different team this year, much stronger and challenging at the
top of their league".
'A final'
For Benfica, two points behind Celtic and United, only one result
will do. "This is a one-off game, a final," said Santos. "We're
going to try to achieve what we set out to do at the start - to
reach the knockout stage." Benfica's record in England does not
augur well, with eight defeats in ten matches, but they won 2-0 at
Liverpool FC on their most recent visit in March, en route to the
quarter-finals, and arrived here buoyed by a 2-0 triumph at
neighbours Sporting Clube de Portugal last Friday.
'Going for win'
"I hope we can play even better than at the weekend," said Santos.
"It is possible to beat United but it'll have to be a great Benfica
performance. We have to be organised, compact, defend well and play
well - and that means making opportunities to score and scoring
them. If we get chances we have to take them." Portuguese teams
have eliminated United in two of their previous three European
campaigns but, predicting an open game, Sir Alex promised his
players would show no caution. "Going for draws is not on the
agenda of Man Utd and we will be going for the win."
Probable teams
United: Edwin van der Sar; Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja
Vidić, Gabriel Heinze; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Michael
Carrick, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha.
Benfica: Quim; Nélson, Luisão, Ricardo Rocha, Léo; Petit,
Konstantinos Katsouranis, Nuno Assis, Simão; Nuno Gomes, Fabrizio
Miccoli.
