Bayern Munich v Manchester Utd:ALEX FERGUSON has challenged his Manchester United players to capitalise on Bayern Munich's problems in their Champions League quarter-final tonight and to demonstrate to Chelsea that his side are in their most exhilarating form of the season ahead of Saturday's potential title decider at Old Trafford.
Ferguson is encouraged by the fact Bayern have worries over the fitness of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, as well as having Bastian Schweinsteiger suspended, and his players will be under instructions to play with the same sense of adventure that brought them three goals against Milan in San Siro in the previous round.
“I think we are in our best form of the season and it’s a massive week for us now,” Ferguson said. “In the space of eight days we have two big games against Bayern and a great game against Chelsea in between. We have to enjoy it and, at the same time, know it’s crucial.
“I respect Bayern Munich,” added the United manager. “I have great admiration for the club. We are playing history, and teams with a certain history play with pride.
“The motivation of playing a quarter-final will be big for Bayern, so we are not getting carried away and thinking for any moment that this will be an easy game.
“But we are in good form. The return of (Nemanja) Vidic and (Rio) Ferdinand and (Edwin) Van der Sar has made a big difference and we’re looking a lot more solid. We are picking a team that we think is right, and on Saturday I’ll have a different thought maybe. Tomorrow is the one to get over first.”
The key, according to Ferguson, could be whether United score in the Allianz Arena, and he argued against 0-0 being a good result to take back to Old Trafford for the return leg.
The manager is encouraged by the return of Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney – “they are both fit” – and spoke of his hope United could meet Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux side in the semi-finals.
“He was one of my players and the job he has done at Bordeaux has been absolutely brilliant,” said Ferguson.
Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, was the recipient of some distinctly less flattering remarks after his criticisms of Vidic for an alleged elbowing offence that left Johan Elmander needing stitches to a head wound during Saturday’s game.
Coyle had described it as a “terrible challenge” but the Football Association are not going to take retrospective action against Vidic, and Ferguson launched an impassioned defence of his player.
“What’s the story about those in glass houses?
Vidic came in at half-time with a lump on his head the size of an egg, a swollen jaw and a black eye.”
- Guardian Service
Lyon v Bordeaux
Stade de Gerland, 7.45pm
On TV: Sky Sports 3
TO FRENCH soccer fans, two Ligue 1 sides facing each other in the last eight means one will feature in the semi-finals. Lyon and Bordeaux, however, see it differently.
After winning seven Ligue 1 titles in succession before losing their crown to Bordeaux last year, Lyon want to show they are still a force to be reckoned with.
Whereas Bordeaux, who are under threat from several teams including Lyon in the league title race, are eager to prove they belong in Europe and can handle the pressure of the big matches.
Lyon will be almost at full strength, with only defenders Francois Clerc and Cleber Anderson sidelined with long-term injuries, and coach Claude Puel will be able to field his best-possible line-up.
Things are not that simple for Brodeaux coach Laurant Blanc, with holding midfielder Alou Diarra serving suspension after being sent off in the previous round and defender Marc Planus nursing a knee injury.
