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Real Madrid will be 'fantastic challenge' - Ferguson
Real Madrid v Manchester United: Ferguson ready for 'acid test'
Sir Alex Ferguson says "getting through" the first leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid is key to Manchester United reclaiming a title they last won in 2008.
Ferguson was in confident mood ahead of Wednesday's last-16, first-leg clash with Jose Mourinho's side in Spain.
He said: "The acid test is this game - I have no doubts about that.
Man Utd v Real Madrid
- 1957: European Cup semi-final - lost 3-1 in Madrid, drew 2-2 at home to lose 5-3 on aggregate
- 1968: European Cup semi-final - won 1-0 at Old Trafford, drew 3-3 away to win 4-3 on aggregate
- 2000: European Cup quarter-final - drew 0-0 at Bernabeu, lost 3-2 at home
- 2003: European Cup quarter-final - lost 3-1 in Spain, won 4-3 at home to lose 6-5 on aggregate
"It is unfortunate that we are meeting as early as this. I wish it had been at Wembley [in the final in May]."
Ferguson is aiming to leave Madrid with a manageable result to take back to Old Trafford for the second leg in three weeks' time.
He added: "Jose summed it up perfectly. It is a game everyone has been waiting for.
"It is a game that is a fantastic challenge for myself and it should be a fantastic match between two teams and two clubs who embrace the best parts of football."
And Ferguson expects the game to live up to the expectations of both managers and the watching world.
"It won't be 0-0 on Wednesday, I can assure you of that. There will be goals," he said.
United's main threat will come from their former golden boy Cristiano Ronaldo, who Ferguson now believes is a superior player to the one who left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in an £80m transfer in summer 2009.
Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United boss“Robin van Persie is now approaching the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi”
He added: "Cristiano is absolutely a better player because of his maturity. He's now at the peak of his career and the next three years will be that way for him as well.
"Cristiano was such a young man when he left me and you can see how he has flourished in Madrid.
"I never thought he would get the number of goals he has scored.
"He and Lionel Messi are the best players in the world and Cristiano's goal record is phenomenal."
Robin van Persie, 29, arrived in Spain for the match with 23 United goals to his name since completing a £24m move from Arsenal in August.
"Robin is now approaching that level," said Ferguson of comparisons with Barcelona's Messi and Ronaldo.
"He has been a breath of fresh air."
In addition to the Champions League, United are also chasing the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
Ferguson said: "People say we are not as good as the teams of the past but sometimes people have foggy impressions, I do myself at times.
"This team doesn't know when it is beaten. It has good individual players."
Wayne Rooney was depicted as a "hooligan" in the Spanish press on Tuesday, with sports daily Marca also describing the England striker as "a freckled demon" who is "built like a barrel packed with gunpowder" and on his way to "blow up the Bernabeu".
Asked about the unflattering reports in the Spanish press, Ferguson added: "Rooney can't read Spanish so we will be all right."
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Comment number 273.
bored2313th February 2013 - 9:45
I personally think itll be 2-1 to Madrid, but to be honest id take that right now.
As long as we can stay within touching distance ill be happy, I think the away goal will be VERY important so a loss wont be too bad as long as we score!
Interesting fact I found out the other day, Utd have fielded a home grown player in over 3,000 consecutative games, that dates back to 1937!
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Comment number 261.
lfc-marc13th February 2013 - 9:36
I personally dont rate mourinho.. everywhere hes gone hes had an all ready great squad and bottomless money pit. I hate to say it but i think SAF is the king, the man u squad isnt world shaking but they get results cause of him.. when ruud left people where saying.. aww theyll never be the same.. same with ronaldo, but they keep winning. Whose the common demnominator?... SAF. Tight one tonight..
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Comment number 232.
TheGMen13th February 2013 - 8:59
Real Madrid are the better team and with 1000,000 behind RM it is an intimidating atmosphere which is why Utd need to field experienced players in this leg.
However if Utd line up with two banks of 4 in front of de Gea, RM will cut through Utd like a knife through butter.
All this without mentioning Ronaldo, who can skin any defender and score at will.
If Utd win tonight I'd be amazed.
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Comment number 56.
Footballislove12th February 2013 - 21:44
Its ridiculous from most fans to say that Real have the better squad. There world class and have quality players. Ronaldo goes without saying, one of the best players of this generation. But it has to be made clear that Real lye 3rd in a league that is dominated by two teams every year, Madrid and Barca. Madrid should be fearing United, these teams match up. If anyone can stop Ron, its Man Utd.
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Comment number 37.
Clearsighted12th February 2013 - 21:24
It is important Manchester United get an away goal. Real have won 9 and drawn 2 of their 11 home games in La Liga. They average over 3 goals a game at home and have only conceded 9 at home all season.
However I'm sure United are likely to get through over 2 legs as Real have won only 5 out of 12 games away from home and conceded the most goals (9) in the group stages of the remaining 16 teams.
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