DEFEAT UNIMAGINABLE

Last updated : 27 August 2002 By Editor
"This tie is a reminder of what happened to us in the Premiership last season and we just have to make sure we get the job done.

"We have the players to get through and I'm confident we'll do so. You saw the capability of the team against Chelsea on Friday night - it was a fantastic performance. It was very impressive. That level of playing on Tuesday would give us a great chance.

"It doesn't matter who the opposition are, conceding an away goal is always a concern in European games.

"Concentration levels have to be good and I expect the players to respond to that. The main threat is our own lack of concentration. I didn't see anything over there in their side that surprised us. They fought like tigers, defended well and then got the goal right at the end."

"If we play to our capabilities and anything approaching what we did on Friday night we will win easily. If we do not win, it would be very serious. But losing isn't something I contemplate. It won't happen.

"The concentration level has to be good and I expect it to be. I didn't see anything in the game over there which I did not expect to see. We dominated the second-half, had five chances and lost to a late goal. They were in their own country and we dominated the match!

"The threat to us will be our lack of concentration. But what happened over there will make us focused.
"We have enjoyed great games in the competition over the last eight years. It's the only place to be.

"We have no injuries from Friday. Rio Ferdinand trained at the weekend, he's very close now but Saturday may be the more likely match for him to play. There's a good chance for Tuesday though.

"Fabien's doing bits of training, but we have to be careful with his goalkeeping training that he doesn't injure himself further, as it's a delicate part of a goalkeeper, the hip. Hopefully he'll be back soon.


Phil Neville:

"If we don't score, they will go through and that would be one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history. It is almost unthinkable for us not to get through but we can't afford to take anything for granted now.

"We are going out to try and eradicate our poor performance in Budapest. European competition has brought the best out of us in recent years, hopefully it will do so again.

"They will be full of confidence. They played out of their skins against us in Hungary. They defended very well and even though they didn't create too many chances, the goal at the end made all the difference.

"The Champions League is the best club competition there is and it would be disastrous if we weren't in it."


Giggs:

"We're all aware of what's at stake. We've got to defend well because an away goal would be so important to them and make it harder for us. Concentration has got to be at its best, all of the players know that.

"The Champions League is the biggest stage. Playing against the best teams in Europe and against the very best players is what it's all about. We can't wait for the game and we know with the ability we have we can come through this test.

"It was a blow to concede a goal so late in the game over there, but we're ready for the challenge and hopefully we can put things right at home.

"We hope it was just a one-off over there. The conditions suited them better than us, and we couldn't get our passing going as well as we'd have liked. We should do a lot better on a good pitch like ours.

"We dominated the game over there and felt we should have won. But we didn't take our chances and paid the price for that with them scoring right at the end.

"The players had an empty feeling in their stomachs when we came off. As soon as the game had finished, we couldn't wait for the second leg to come around. The game against Chelsea showed what we are capable of doing when we dig in.

"We were disappointing in the first half then stepped up a level in the second and proved what we can do."


McClair:

"The Hungarians will come here trying to play down their chances in public but believing in private they will never come much closer to a real giant-killing than they are now.

"They will try and be relaxed; they will know everything about every one of our players and that will be helpful to them. They will believe that what happened in Hungary can happen again if their attitude is right and provided they apply themselves and United don't get it together.

"The way the team played at Stamford Bridge is the biggest boost. It was an outstanding match and for me it was as good as our team has played for quite a time. To play as well as that at such an early stage of the season is very impressive.

"It is the standard the boss has set for the club and the standard the players will be expected to again produce in Europe."


Zalaegerszegi coach Peter Bozsik:

"There is a good feeling across the country. The entire nation paid attention to our finest hour. It has affected everyone. It has reached the point where the players and myself cannot walk through Zalaegerszeg without being stopped in the street. Everyone wants to wish us good luck.

"You have to understand the differences between the two countries. The economics and financial set-up in Hungary are so different from England and it's reflected in the players we have. Our team cost no more than £150,000-£200,000 to put together. Is that enough to pay David Beckham for a month or two?

"There are only a few clubs in Hungary who do not have financial problems and we are not one of them. But, if we beat Manchester, the money from qualifying will mean we have no more problems for the next two years.

"We will have to defend well because Manchester United will force us to. But we are not here to put up a wall. We intend to attack our opponents, just as we did in Budapest.

"We actually think Manchester United's defence is their weak point. We will try to find gaps because, if we score an away goal, it will be very difficult for them."


Manchester United (probable, 4-4-2): Carroll; P Neville, Ferdinand, Blanc, Silvestre; Beckham, Keane, Veron, Giggs; Solskjaer, Van Nistelrooy.

Zalaegerszeg (probable, 3-5-2): Ilic; Czoka, Urban, Budisa; Babati, Ljubojevic, Vincze, Egressy, Szamosi; Farago, Kenesei.

TV: BBC1, kick-off 8.10pm