Fletcher: Aalborg are no pushovers
| Darren Fletcher has warned his Manchester United team-mates not to expect an easy ride in Tuesday's Champions League clash at Aalborg.Having opened their Champions League defence with a home draw against Villarreal, Fletcher knows United could do with maximum points from their trip to northern Denmark. Immediately after the Group E draw was made, that is probably what United expected too, along with Villarreal and Celtic in the battle for two qualifying spots. But those ideas had to be swiftly revised in the wake of Aalborg's eye-catching draw at Parkhead. And Fletcher knows it will not be as comfortable in the Aalborg Stadion as most Red Devils followers think. "It is not going to be quite that easy to beat them," he said. "Aalborg might not be a household name but this is the Champions League. It is a top-quality competition and they are a quality side. "People might have discarded Aalborg but that will only help them because there is no pressure. "It is a game we will have to be on top form for." United have certainly turned their season around in the past fortnight. Having gone into the Villarreal clash on the back of a sound beating at Anfield, the Old Trafford side had the better of things with the Spaniards without being able to get the all-important goal. It was a similar story at Chelsea, only this time United were unable to hold a lead that looked like giving them victory. Confidence was mounting though and subsequent triumphs over Middlesbrough and Bolton mean they will face Bruce Rioch's side in confident mood. "We are in better form now," said Fletcher, who knows the last time failed to overcome Villarreal on home soil, the Red Devils were embarrassingly knocked out in the group stage. "When you look at it, Aalborg's result at Celtic was a good one for us. "But it is important we get a win tomorrow. The longer you go without one the more worrying it gets. "We need to kick-start our Champions League campaign." Aside from the Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough, Fletcher has been an ever-present for United this term, scoring crucial goals against Newcastle and Portsmouth. Although he deputised for Cristiano Ronaldo during the Portugal winger's absence after ankle surgery, he played in a central position during Saturday's controversial triumph against Bolton. And, with Owen Hargreaves once again sidelined by a knee injury that surfaced almost as soon as he joined the Red Devils from Bayern Munich last summer, the Scotland star could be is set for even more first-team exposure this term. Gary Neville is also absent from the squad despite seeming to come through Saturday's win over Bolton unscathed after almost 18 months on the sidelines following major ankle surgery, plus hamstring and calf trouble. His absence is likely to mean an immediate recall for Wes Brown. |
發表於 2008-9-30 01:16 AM
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