Ronaldo: Euro Confident
Mirror: Cristiano Ronaldo has endorsed Sir Alex Ferguson’s belief that Manchester United have what it takes to win the Champions League this season.
United continued their ruthless form in the competition with a 4-0 win over Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday to maintain their 100 per cent record and book a place in the last 16 with two games to spare.
Fergie believes he has finally assembled a squad capable of matching the European Cup triumphs of 1968 and 1999 and Ronaldo, arguably United’s most influential player, shares the conviction of his manager.
“Manchester United has the chance to win the Champions League every season,” said Ronaldo. “But this season is a really special opportunity for us. We got to the semi-finals last season and came up short against AC Milan. That was a real big disappointment for all of us. If anything, it has made us more determined to go on and win it this season.
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“We all want to win the Champions League. For me it’s so important to do that. We certainly have the power to do it.
“The squad is so strong at the moment that even when the boss made five changes from the game at Arsenal, as he did against Kiev, we were still able to score four goals.”
Fergie has already admitted he will use the remaining two group games, at home to Sporting Lisbon and away to Roma, to give a run-out to players who need it. With the Champions League knockout stage not beginning until February 19, qualifying so swiftly allows United to focus until then on the Premier League.
“It’s always important to win but to go through to the next stage after just four group games and with maximum points is excellent,” said Ronaldo.
“Now we’re through to the next stage the great thing is we can concentrate solely on the Premiership.
“We’ve got four goals in five of the last six matches now, which is fantastic at the level at which we’re playing. Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez have been linking up superbly, not just in this game but for the last six weeks.
“They seem to know each other so well on the pitch and are doing a great job of scoring. I’m on a great run myself as well and aim to carry that on and score many more goals.”
United’s form domestically and in Europe would suggest they have every chance of winning the title and the Champions League this season, having scored 23 goals in their past seven games.
Defender Nemanja Vidic, who yesterday signed a new five-year deal worth £55,000-aweek, as revealed by Mirror Sport, believes the combination of a solid defence and dynamic attack can clinch silverware.
“At the moment we’re a great danger to the other teams,” said Vidic. “We play great football with speed. We’ve quality players at the front and in defence we know we can keep clean sheets.”
RED DEVILS’ EURO RIVALS
BARCELONA
Looking like the other class act of the field, with Ronaldinho finding his form and Thierry Henry (left) finding his feet. Won over course and distance in 2006 and know what they need to do to repeat that triumph this time round, while still smarting from last season’s exit against Liverpool.
Key Men: Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi
CHELSEA
Struggled at Schalke but favourites to win Group B and gradually rebuilding the belief that followed Jose Mourinho out of the Stamford Bridge exit door. Michael Ballack will be available for the knock-out phase too, and Roman Abramovich’s war-chest suggests a January signing is likely.
Key Men: Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry
AC MILAN
Shocking domestic form but the holders are their familiar selves in Europe and on course to ease through to the last 16. Basically the team which conquered Liverpool in Athens, with Ronaldo now eligible, and proved their all-round strength as they out-classed United in the San Siro semi-final in May. Tough as old boots when they have to be.
Key Men: Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Nesta
LIVERPOOL
The hard part for the Reds might be getting through to the knock-out stage but if Rafa Benitez’s men can beat Porto and Marseille to pull off the Great Escape they will be a team to avoid. The return of Fernando Torres cannot come quickly enough but Rafa has proved himself the master of negotiating the cup-tie phase of the competition.
Key Men: Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher
INTER MILAN
Successive Serie A titles have given Inter the belief that had been missing for a decade and now Roberto Mancini’s men are putting down their marker in Europe too. Have enough attacking options to leave Adriano out of their squad, grafters in the middle and real solidity at the back. Only lost one of their last 51 League games and again top of the tree at home.
Key Men: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, Walter Samuel
WHO THEY COULD FACE
Group winners play runners-up in the last 16, but no team can be drawn against a side from their own country, or from their current group. Based on form, here are the favourites and their likely opponents.
Manchester United: Schalke, Lazio, Celtic, Rangers, Fenerbahce, Sevilla
Barcelona: Liverpool, Schalke, Lazio, Celtic, Roma, Fenerbahce
Chelsea: Lazio, Celtic, Rangers, Roma, Fenerbahce, Sevilla
Ac Milan: Liverpool, Schalke, Rangers, Fenerbahce, Sevilla
Inter Milan: Liverpool, Schalke, Celtic, Rangers, Sevilla
Liverpool: Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan
Real Madrid: Fenerbache, Liverpool, Schalke, Celtic, Rangers, Roma
