Manchester United to show that the end can justify the means

It has long been one of Alex Ferguson's primary beliefs about achievement in football that tactics matter less than players, especially if the players in question are either out of form or are not of the quality required in the first place.

This, allied to his sustained success at Aberdeen and Manchester United, has often absolved Ferguson from those bar-room discussions about the tactical naivety of certain managers.

Yesterday, though, Ferguson made a half-harsh self-assessment of United's Champions League performances this season, although his criticism of his own choices at some points in the campaign was conditional.

Should United, as expected, slip past a depleted Dynamo Kiev side tonight at Old Trafford, vindication of his core belief will be Ferguson's once again.

Despite sitting in third place in the group this morning, victory this evening would guarantee United a place in the next phase, as the two clubs above, PSV Eindhoven and Anderlecht, are meeting in Holland. Whatever the score there, United will progress if they overcome the Ukrainians.

However, anything less than three points and United will be in difficulties. A draw ensures they would join Liverpool and Celtic in the UEFA Cup, but an away win and United would be out of Europe.

So accustomed are we to United's relentless momentum that even writing of such a possibility feels like a jolt, and presumably the unusual uncertainty is what Ferguson was alluding to yesterday when he said: "I take some of the criticism in the sense that I played a weakened team against PSV. But you have to look at your next game and I did it for the best reasons."

Having lost 3-1 in Eindhoven, Arsenal at Highbury were next. United lost that one as well. "If we had won that game we would be in a very good position in the league," Ferguson added.

United have recovered somewhat since. In the Premiership they are top, but they lost 2-1 in Brussels a fortnight ago and that has left them in this uncharacteristically vulnerable position.

The centre of the defence has been identified as the heart of United's European problem (Ferguson blamed Ronny Johnsen's decision-making against Anderlecht, and Mikael Silvestre's bad header was responsible for PSV's brief parity at Old Trafford), but against Kiev neither will be present in the Jaap Stam-free zone. Instead, Gary Neville will partner Wes Brown, as happened at Highfield Road on Saturday against Coventry City.

Maybe of greater defensive relevance against a Kiev team chasing a place in the UEFA Cup is that Roy Keane, missing in Brussels, is again around to offer the defence his considerable shield.

With Paul Scholes suspended, Ferguson hopes that Nicky Butt will be fit to stand alongside Keane in central midfield. Otherwise, the formation should be one most fans anticipate.

Although Ferguson admitted to a misgiving about how this group has unfolded, he added that the situation is hardly anything new. "Playing on the edge," he said, "it's something the players are used to. A game like this will not have any fear for them. For them it's not like walking into a bear pit. They're quite happy about it, they rely on and trust each other.

"They rely on their ability and they've done that for some years now. What they have done well over the years is maintain a fantastic consistency.

"I know there is a lot of hype and talk about the pressure on the players, but I think they quite enjoy that - playing games which have a vital meaning to them. It's on these occasions we've got to trust them and that's certainly my intention. They don't let themselves or myself down very often."

On the 14th anniversary of Ferguson's arrival at United, it is unlikely in the extreme that Ferguson's players will settle for anything other than a straightforward, emphatic home win. Desire and experience, rather than any cute tactical ploy, should prove to be the explanation.