Attack! Attack! Attack! - Fergie calls for Roma spirit

The Premiership leaders must try to cancel out the effects of a crippling defensive injury crisis in their Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford.

Scroll down to read more

That's how to do it: Giggs and Rooney celebrate during United's 7-1 hammering of Roma

Only 13 United players — including two goalkeepers — trained on Monday and Ferguson will have to use Darren Fletcher as an emergency right back if Patrice Evra fails a fitness test.

Indeed, as the Italians arrived in Manchester on Monday night labelling United "predictable" and thinking of employing midfield hardman Gennaro Gattuso to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson was trying to find enough bodies even to fill the bench.

However, he once again showed his mastery of mind games by underlining his belief that Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney can inflict serious damage on Milan's ageing defence.

Asked if attack may prove the best form of defence, as it did in the 7-1 quarter-final demolition of Roma, Ferguson said: "We can't ignore the age of the Milan defence. We will be expected to have a real go at them and create chances and score goals.

"The name of the game in this situation is to win the game without losing a goal. That would be a massive result for us."

Milan, who knocked United out of the competition two years ago, arrived at Old Trafford in bullish mood on Monday night.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Manchester United are quite predictable. They are an extremely strong side but looking carefully you do understand how they operate."

Top of Milan's agenda will be neutralising the threat of Ronaldo and Monday night's training session saw Ancelotti experimenting with former Rangers midfielder Gattuso as a man-marker.

Gattuso said: "Ronaldo is a star but this player will not remove my dream. Milan need to stop his game and we have a plan for that."

Ferguson has long been an admirer of Gattuso and has tried to sign him. "Gattuso has that Glaswegian narkiness in him," he said.

"He could start a row in an empty house, just like a typical Glaswegian. But the spirit in our team is great and we are confident.

"We have no fears. We have one or two worries about injuries but the important players are there.

"On Saturday we showed some anxiety in terms of our decision-making but nobody was hiding."