Time to buck the trend, chaps

Never during Ferguson's time at United have his team managed to overturn a first-leg deficit in the knockout stages of the competition he loves beyond all others.

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Against Roma tonight Sir Alex must buck that trend.

"I don't think we've been in the situation much, have we?" he said, incorrectly, yesterday. "Maybe just one or two times. But I don't think many people enjoy coming to Old Trafford, do they?

"It's not an easy place to come to and anyone who has come here will tell you that — and it won't be easy for Roma."

Old Trafford on a European night can certainly be an intimidating arena. Especially given the security issues in Rome last week that have given tonight's meeting an even sharper edge than the 2-1 lead the Italians bring with them.

But teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Porto have all gone to Manchester with leads and managed to protect them.

This time it has to be different if Ferguson's team are not to exit the Champions League prematurely and change the whole shape of a season that has already been altered by the weekend defeat at Portsmouth in the Premiership.

Wayne Rooney — sitting alongside Ferguson at yesterday's official UEFA press conference — summed up United's mission succinctly.

He said: "We don't want to let ourselves down now, not after doing so well all season.

"We need a good performance because Roma are a good team, they pass the ball really well and at times it's difficult to get it back off them. So we have to be ready, focused, and we have to be in top gear.

"We're in the European Cup quarter-finals and you're not going to get through if you play badly. It's important we take our chances as well.

"It's important that the reaction from the weekend is positive. We have to go into this game playing the way we have been most of the season.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the weekend result but this is a different tournament and we have to take the way we've been playing all season into this game.

"It's going to be a difficult game. The main thing in Rome, especially after going down to 10 men, was making sure we stayed in the tie. The away goal was a bonus for us and hopefully we can make it count by winning it now. We want to continue our good performances and go further in the tournament. We just have to do that."

As a call to arms, it was impressive from Rooney. A boy who could barely speak for himself when he joined United in August 2004 has now, at 21, matured into a leader of men.

It is, of course, largely due to Rooney's second-half goal in the Olympic Stadium last week that United have a chance at all. A 1-0 win will do but one senses this will be an evening when Ferguson gives his players permission to play with the shackles off.

Paul Scholes will be missing after his sending-off in Rome, while Louis Saha is absent with a hamstring injury he picked up in training.

Both are serious losses for United, so much will depend on Rooney and his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Two years ago in Italy both were anonymous as United failed to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat at home by AC Milan.

Rooney has not forgotten the experience. He added: "When we played AC Milan, myself, Cristiano and few other players were still young, trying to learn the game and get experience.

"I think playing against the likes of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, as we did back then, gives you a good platform on which to learn. Since then I think both Cristiano and I have improved as players and matured a lot, especially Cristiano.

"He's been winning games on his own this season and hopefully he can do that this time against Roma. Hopefully he can produce some of his magic and win us the game.

"He has been unbelievable and I think he's the best player in the world right now."

Roma captain Francesco Totti, so important in the first leg, is a doubt for Old Trafford tonight because of a problem with the sciatic nerve in his back. However, the Italy World Cup winner gave an insight into what victory would mean to him.

He said: "As a Roman, this game is more important to me than the World Cup Final."

Ferguson remains bitter about the performance of German referee Herbert Fandel in last week's game but has been encouraged by the appointment of the Slovakian official Lubos Michel for tonight.

Some Roma players have accused Ferguson of criticising Fandel in an attempt to put pressure on Michel.

Defender Christian Panucci said: "Ferguson is nervous and that's why he criticised Fandel. He's experienced and trying to put pressure on the referee for Old Trafford."

The United manager showed little interest in the criticism yesterday and chose instead to spell out his belief in his team.

"I think the players have proved they can handle pressure," said Ferguson. "There's always tension when you come to this time of the season. This is when things are decided. The nature of this club is to recover well from defeat.

"Losing a game is not an unusual fact of football life. Everyone loses at some point but it's what you do about it that makes a team."

Probable teams:

Manchester United (4-4-2): Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze; Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs; Solskjaer, Rooney.

Roma (4-2-3-1): Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Chivu, Panucci; De Rossi, Pizarro; Wilhelmsson, Taddei, Mancini; Totti. Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).

United failing to fight back

Sir Alex Ferguson's team face a difficult night at Old Trafford if recent history is any guide, as they have yet to win a tie after conceding a first-leg deficit in the Champions League. Of the five ties, going back to 1997, in which they have trailed after the first leg, United have only won one return game. That 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in 2003 was academic after a brilliant hat-trick from Ronaldo wrapped up the tie before a farewell double from David Beckham in his last European tie for United.

1997 — Semi-final:

Borussia Dortmund 1 Man Utd 0

Man Utd 0 Borussia Dortmund 1

2001 — Quarter-final:

Bayern Munich 1 Man Utd 0

Man Utd 1 Bayern Munich 2

2003 — Quarter-final:

Real Madrid 3 Man Utd 1

Man Utd 4 Real Madrid 3

2004 — Last 16:

FC Porto 2 Man Utd 1

Man Utd 1 FC Porto 1

2005 — Last 16:

Man Utd 0 AC Milan 1

AC Milan 1 Man Utd 0