Champions League Quarter Final - United Draw Roma …
Memories of United’s Treble year will be stirred again following the draw that pits Sir Alex’s team against AS Roma in the Champions League quarter final.
United defeated Inter Milan at the same stage eight years ago and must now see off Francisco Totti’s unit for a place in the semi-final, where they will meet either Bayern Munich or AC Milan.
United will be wary of the Italians but should not lack confidence, providing key players are fit and in form when the first match takes place in the Italian capital on 4 April.
“We’ve never played Roma before so it’ll be a new and exciting experience,” Sir Alex said. “They have some great players like De Rossi and Mancini. Obviously it’s pointless looking beyond this game. We must concentrate on this game only. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Roma qualified by beating highly-fancied Lyon with a tremendous ‘Ronaldo-esque’ goal from Mancini that set pulses racing. United scrambled past Lille with a well-taken Henrik Larsson header.
At this point of the competition, all the teams are strong,” said Roma boss Luciano Spalletti. “It would have been perhaps easier to have met a team like PSV Eindhoven but the truth is that all the teams that have made it to the last eight have proved to have a lot of character and determination.”
“Unlike us, United have a lot of experience in this competition and a lot of tradition. They are a very strong team, they have a young side that have individual quality, a big team spirit and is one of the most complete teams in the competition.
“But we have do what we did against Lyon, we have to be convinced for our worth and be optimistic about our chances. After all, our football is more technical and better tactically than English football.” AU
Roma v Manchester United : Wednesday April 4 and Tuesday April 10
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