UNITED, UNITED TOP OF THE LEAGUE

Last updated : 10 November 2002 By Editor

"It is vital that we finish top of our group and, while we don't need a win, the best way to get the result you need is to go for the victory.

"That would mean we'll avoid the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and probably Real Madrid in the second phase, and it would also give us a good chance to stay away from some of the other big clubs.

"I would certainly include Inter, Roma and Juventus in that category again. There has been a re-emergence of Italian football this season and we are aware of that threat as well as the one posed by the Spanish teams.

"AC Milan in particular are playing some great football. I watched a video of them beating Deportivo 4-0 and it was a wonderful display. I'm not kidding when I say that Filippo Inzaghi missed about 20 chances that night. I have never seem so many opportunities fall to one player.

"Italian football has been through a bad spell but I think we are all aware of the progress their clubs have made this season. German football, though, seems to have dipped the other way.

"Leverkusen are struggling in the Bundesliga, but we have all seen in the past how much resilience the Germans have when things aren't going well for them."