WINNING THE PORTUGUESE LEAGUE IS LIKE BUYING A BOTTLE OF MILK

"Porto are a good side and I feel we have got the hardest draw, but
I think they bought that championship in Tesco! They get it
every year. Every time they buy a bottle of milk, it is
three points.

"I don't know how many times they have won it but since
Aberdeen played them back in 1984, I can't remember anyone
else apart from Sporting Lisbon taking their title. They are
a very aggressive side and they pass the ball quickly. They
have a few key players like Deco and with the two full-backs
bombing on all the time, Nuno Valente and Ferreira, they are
a danger.

"There is also a lot of experience at the back in Jorge
Costa who played for Charlton - so hopefully we can get our
best performance in Europe because it is going to be needed
and I also hope there are no injuries so I can get the team
I want on the pitch."

Fergie reckons that the new format to the European Cup will
benefit English clubs:

"It should help the English clubs. It will help us because we have
a demanding season, it's exhausting and you need players
with a lot of resilience to get through that. Although we
have coped well in previous years, nonetheless I think it is
a benefit to us, but you have still got to win your games."