Match Preview

Last updated : 11 November 2007 By Editor

Alex Ferguson:

"The form of Blackburn means it will be a really tough game for us.

"I think they can break into the top four. Nobody turns them over and they don't get beat by stupid scores.

"That's a combination of having decent players and the continuity that comes from having stayed together for a while."


Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:

"Defensively they are solid and it will take a good side to overcome them - but we feel we are a good side.

"We have gone up against three out of the big four and are unbeaten so there is no reason we cannot go to Old Trafford and get a positive result.

"We couldn't be going there in better circumstances given the run we're on."


Patrice Evra:

"It will be a very hard game at the weekend.

"I think maybe more hard than Arsenal. Blackburn are a strong team, physically you have to be ready for this game.

"I went to the Champions League final with Monaco (losing to Porto in 2004) and I want to win that trophy but this year I want to win the Premier League first.

"It is the priority because you need to confirm your trophy. It is unbelievable to win the Premier League. It is one of the best leagues in the world and last year I was so happy."


Ryan Giggs in today's programme:

"Form-wise and position-wise, everything is great.

"It's fantastic to have players returning from injury. Gary [Neville] will be back soon, Louis is fit and he's really important for us as he showed when he came on at Arsenal.

"Even the lads who didn't make the bench like Piqué, Fletch [Scottish player] and Simmo [Simpson] have played an important part.

"We're looking really strong and hopefully we can get the result we want against Blackburn."


Morten Gamst Pedersen:

"I'm looking forward to it. I am not going there with any fear. What do they call Old Trafford? The dream theatre? Well if we win there, it would be a kind of dream, though we played well there last year and even went 1-0 up.

"You can't be crazy when you go there but one of the secrets is to meet them high up the pitch and maybe shock them a little bit by being aggressive. You can't do it all the time but after you've had a rest, you have to find the faith to go up and win the ball again. If you ask one million people in England, 999,999 will say Man U are going to win. But we believe we can get results against anyone. It's a big opportunity to show yourself, your team-mates, your fans and the whole of England that you are a good side and can match yourself against the best players in the world.

"I think we have a good reputation now. And we can match most of the teams all over the pitch, even if it is the forwards getting the credit for the goals they have scored. United are a good side and they can beat anyone almost whenever they want. Almost, but we won there in 2005 and last year we did well up till half-time. Once they score, though, it is hard to stop them getting more and we lost 4-1."


BBC Squads:

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evans, Evra, Simpson, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Saha, Tevez.

Blackburn (from): Friedel, Brown, Emerton, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Berner, Bentley, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Tugay, Mokoena, Rigters, Khizanishvili, Treacy.


BBC Weather:

12°C. Sunny.