Quarter-final second leg (First leg: Roma 0-2 Manchester United)Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his players to guard against complacency when they face Roma at Old Trafford for the second leg of the sides’ quarter-final.
The Premier League leaders’ 2-0 victory in Italy last week leaves them poised for a second successive semi-final, but Ferguson warned against taking anything for granted on Roma’s return to a stadium where they lost 7-1 at this stage last season.
“We have got one foot in the semi-final,” said the Scot. “We are not looking to do anything silly, that’s the first thing. The clock is against Roma so they have to do something, which might suit us because I think on the counterattack we are very good.”
With Nemanja Vidic absent after twisting his knee in the first leg, Ferguson hopes Rio Ferdinand, will feature after the central defender limped off during United’s 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday.
“Hopefully we can get him fit [for Wednesday],” said the manager, adding that the experienced pair of Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre may appear at some stage, following lengthy absences of 13 and seven months respectively.
While Ferguson predicted “one or two changes”, he admitted it would be “difficult” to leave out Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of the opener in Rome and on target in ten in his last eleven games in this competition.
His Roma counterpart, Luciano Spalletti, conscious of last season’s drubbing, believes it would be foolish to throw caution to the wind against opponents who have scored in every game of their Champions League campaign.
“For the first hour we have to play as if the first leg didn’t happen and try not to think we are 2-0 down,” said Spalletti. “Going all out for a goal from the start could be counterproductive against a team with the attacking potential of Manchester United.”
Yet despite two defeats here in the last 12 months, Spalletti was not overly pessimistic about his side’s chances.
“I always start with the conviction that my players are capable of overturning any score,” he said. “I know them very well and they are prepared to give everything – that was shown in their reaction on Sunday [in the 3-2 home win over Genoa CFC].”
Spalletti may opt for the more defensive-minded Max Tonetto ahead of Mancini in left midfield. The Roma coach is still without Francesco Totti but does welcome back Juan and Simone Perrotta, both of whom missed the first leg.
