Ronaldo expects United to roar
Cristiano Ronaldo has promised Benfica the real Manchester United will show up at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night.
The Portuguese youngster returns to his homeland on club duty for the first time since his £12m move from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 determined to help push United into the Champions League knock-out phase.
After an uncharacteristic group campaign, which has seen the Red Devils win just once, and score only twice in five matches, Alex Ferguson’s side know victory is essential if they are to guarantee their place in the last 16.
Given that up to £15m of future prize-money, as well as masses of prestige, are at stake, the pressure on United to perform is huge.
But, with the horrific run of injuries which affected the Old Trafford outfit so badly earlier in the campaign now almost at an end, Ronaldo feels United can come through this latest stiff test.
“We have some of our most experienced players back now,” said Ronaldo, who boarded the flight accompanied by Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha, all of whom have missed big chunks of the season.
“That has to be good news for the team and it means we will be a lot stronger tomorrow than we have been before.”
Giggs’ return for Saturday’s win over Portsmouth actually cost Ronaldo his place in Ferguson’s starting line-up.
However, the United boss is more likely to name his veteran Welsh winger on the bench and offer Ronaldo the first opportunity to run at his fellow countrymen from the left flank.
A sell-out 65,000-capacity crowd is guaranteed as Benfica know victory will also take them through to the next stage, even though they will begin the contest bottom of Group D.
Ronaldo has already had a difficult past few months, following the death of his father and rape allegations which were dropped.
And, as a former Sporting Lisbon star, his homecoming will probably be greeted with hostility, although the 20-year-old insists neither he, nor his team-mates, will be affected by anything which comes down from the stands.
“I don’t know what kind of reception I will get. This is Benfica’s stadium after all,” he said.
“But no way will I, or my team-mates, be intimidated.
“We are used to playing in these kind of environments. It doesn’t matter where we play, the atmosphere is always the same.
“What happens in the stadium will have no effect on our performance.
“The demands of the situation mean everyone must be focussed on the game and I aim to help the team win.”
Ferguson has doubts over Gary Neville and John O’Shea, who are struggling with thigh and hamstring strains respectively.
If Neville is fit enough to lead United in his new role as club captain for the first time, O’Shea might be ousted anyway as Mikael Silvestre could be shunted into the left-back role.
Ferguson’s other dilemma, in a match where a draw is likely to be enough if Villarreal do not draw with Lille in the other fixture, will be whether to select Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-sung or Giggs, with the odds just favouring the young Scot.
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