Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson returns to his hometown of Glasgow to face his former club Rangers and former protégé Alex McLeish in a Champions League ”Battle of Britain”.
It’s the first time in Ferguson’s 17-year career at Manchester United that he’s going back for a competitive match to the club where he used to play.
Adding further spice to the match: McLeish was Ferguson’s captain when he was coach of Scottish club Aberdeen and the Dons won the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup over Real Madrid.
”Yes, for me it’s special because I’m Scottish and I played with Rangers,” Ferguson said. ”I’m just hoping the hype doesn’t overshadow what will be a good game.”
Rangers are unbeaten at Ibrox in 15 European matches dating back four years. But the Gers are coming off a 1-1 draw against midtable Motherwell on Sunday, leaving them three points behind archrival Celtic.
”I think Sir Alex will be thinking that, if Rangers play like that, that Manchester United will win comfortably,” McLeish said.
”But we have a lot more in the team than we showed [Sunday] and the players know they have to raise their game on Wednesday night.”
Rangers are the unlikely leader of Group E with a win and a draw. Stuttgart are second with three points — after beating United in the previous rotation. The Reds also have three points.
Panathinaikos, last with one point, are at Stuttgart on Wednesday.
Ferguson said United had learned from their mistakes at Stuttgart.
”We threw that game away — make no mistake about it,” he said.
”What we found about Stuttgart is that they don’t really try to win the game and you have to guard against the counterattack because of that.
”Rangers will expect a lot of possession over there and I hope they learn from our lesson and keep the back door shut.”
In Wednesday’s other matches, it’s Marseille vs FC Porto and Real Madrid vs Partizan Belgrade in Group F; Chelsea vs Lazio and Sparta Prague vs Besiktas in Group G; and Ajax vs Celta de Vigo and AC Milan vs FC Brugge in Group H.
Real Madrid host Partizan after beating Celta 2-0, their first Spanish league match in which they didn’t concede a goal.
”We played really well,” coach Carlo Queiroz said. ”Matches serve to bring you experience. The confidence the game has given us will be good for the Champions League clash.”
Madrid lead Group F with six points, followed by Marseille with three and Porto and Partizan with one point each.
Lazio have left defender Fernando Couto in Italy for their match against Chelsea in London. Couto was injured in Lazio’s 1-0 defeat at AC Milan on Sunday.
Chelsea are still struggling to find their feet. The Blues suffered their first league defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Arsenal. Three weeks ago, they were beaten 2-0 at home by Besiktas in the Champions League.
Blues coach Claudio Ranieri said his players were working on teamwork.
”When Damien Duff gets the ball for us, Adrian Mutu and Hernan Crespo don’t know what is going to happen next,” Ranieri said.
”People keep asking me how long it will take before we know what each other is going to do, but I really don’t know. I just hope it happens soon.”
Defending champion AC Milan are confident of a win against FC Brugge after wins against city rival Inter Milan and Lazio in league play.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti will also have the luxury of a well-rested Rui Costa on Wednesday. The Portuguese midfielder never left the bench against Lazio on Sunday night and has no qualms with his coach’s rotation policy.
”This is a team in which everyone is important,” he said.
Brugge have disappointed in the Champions League so far, with a draw against Celta and a loss to Ajax.
”Don’t expect us to be the favorite in Milan,” coach Trond Sollied said.
In Tuesday’s matches, it’s: Anderlecht vs Celtic and Lyon vs Bayern Munich in Group A; Dynamo Kiev vs Arsenal and Lokomotiv Moscow vs Inter Milan in Group B; AEK Athens vs PSV Eindhoven and Deportivo de La Coruna vs Monaco in Group C; Galatasaray vs Olympiakos and Juventus vs Real Sociedad in Group D. — Sapa-AP