Manchester United braces for Champions League clash
Manchester United is expected to be bolstered by the return of Rio Ferdinand in their Champions league clash on Tuesday.
The defender would hope to settle his differences with Wayne Rooney for the match against Scottish giants, Rangers, on Tuesday.
The English striker, Rooney was at the centre of a controversy as British tabloid, The News of the World, revealed details of his illicit relationship with a prostitute and subsequently he did not play against Everton last weekend.
Manchester United coach, Alex Ferguson vowed to keep his player away from the controversy that has jeopardised his marriage.
The Manchester club would hope to perform at their very best and stamp their authority in the all-British Group C match at Old Trafford (1845 GMT).
"I don't think it's frail I think it's a lack of concentration in defending in those last few moments", Ferguson said at a press conference on Monday.
"Saturday the defence was very good until that last moment so I don't think it's a frailty it's a lack of concentration. Rio Ferdinand trained the last few weeks and is desperate to get a game now, we welcome him back", quipped Ferguson on his ace defender.
Rooney will aim to put aside his personal trouble and regain the touch that made him the most influential striker in English football last season, he scored five goals in the Champions League alone.
"I left him out for the reasons I told you on Saturday and I'm not going beyond that", said Ferguson.
Scottish champions, Rangers came back from behind scoring a win over Hamilton on the weekend.
Rangers, who failed to win any of their six Champions League matches last season, will need good fortune against three-time European champions and thus the Manchester United coach is wary of the team coached by Walter Smith.
"I think they are organised and I think that with bringing in Naismith and Weiss I think they're better than last year and if you look at their performances away from home in the Champions League last season they were very very good, they drew at Stuttgart and only lost 1-0 to Sevilla, and I think you can expect that type of performance from Rangers tomorrow", he said.
"They won the league again last year and you've got to give it to the manager, Walter has galvanized them, having to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear really, and it's been an absolutely phenomenal performance".
The Scottish club would hope to fix their beleaguered Champions League record and for that purpose they are set to bring back Steven Whittaker after he missed the action last week due to an injury.
On the other hand fellow defender Kirk Broadfoot is doubtful after limping off at the weekend with an ankle problem.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has the upper hand against the club he supported as a boy, his present employers have beaten Rangers and have not conceded a goal in both previous encounters, in the group stage of the 2003-04 Champions League.
The other teams in Group C are Spain's Valencia and Turkish champions, Bursaspor.
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