SAVE THE TALK

Last updated : 15 November 2002 By Editor
The draw's at lunchtime and United will play La Coruna, either Juve or Inter and one of Basel, Lokomotiv Moscow or Ajax.

Fergie:

"I have to say this is going to be a very difficult tournament to win this season. Over the past three years the Spanish teams have been excellent and now the Italians have raised the bar a bit with AC Milan and Juventus having done very well. To be honest, I do not think you could pick a favourite. I think it is going to be a real close competition.


Deportivo's Aldo Duscher who fouled Beckham last time out:

"I spoke to Beckham after the incident and apologised for what happened. If I get the chance I will talk to him again and would have no problem swapping shirts with him. It was an unlucky tackle and I never wanted to injure him.

"When I saw him play in the World Cup after all that had happened I was really pleased. What happened in that game was exaggerated out of all proportion by the media. There was no problem between Beckham and me - it was simply the case that I had injured a very important player."

"I don't know how I will be received at Old Trafford because what happened there before had massive repercussion. In any case I am only going to focus on matters on the pitch and will not let anything else affect me.

"It is going to be a very difficult game against a tough team that have qualified well for the second phase. But we will just have to see what sort of form both teams are in when they play each other."


Basel's Christian Gross:

"Wouldn't it be great to have some more stars over before Christmas? Maybe David Beckham. Manchester United are a great side and playing them again would be a great feast for me."