Champions League: Alex Ferguson ready for Real Madrid clash

Champions League: Alex Ferguson ready for Real Madrid clash
Sir Alex Ferguson says "getting through" the first leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid is essential to Manchester United reclaiming the most coveted European crown, that they last won in 2008. Ferguson was quite confident ahead of Wednesday's first leg clash with Jose Mourinho's side in Spain. Ferguson said: "The acid test is this game - I have no doubts about that. It is unfortunate that we are meeting as early as this. I wish it had been at Wembley in the final in May." The Manchester United manager wants to escape the first leg in Madrid with a manageable result to take back to Old Trafford for the second leg in three weeks' time. "Jose summed it up perfectly. It is a game everyone has been waiting for. It is a game that is a fantastic challenge for myself and it should be a fantastic match between two teams and two clubs who embrace the best parts of football," Ferguson added. The legendary manager also believes that there will be plenty of entertainment at Santiago Bernabeu: "It won't be 0-0 on Wednesday, I can assure you of that. There will be goals," he said. The main threat for United will come from their former star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who Ferguson now believes is a better player compared to the one who left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in an £80m transfer in 2009. "Cristiano is absolutely a better player because of his maturity. He's now at the peak of his career and the next three years will be that way for him as well. Cristiano was such a young man when he left me and you can see how he has flourished in Madrid. I never thought he would get the number of goals he has scored. He and Lionel Messi are the best players in the world and Cristiano's goal record is phenomenal." Manchester United have a fierce goal scorer of their own though, Dutch striker Robin van Persie, who has 23 goals to his name since the start of the season. "Robin is now approaching that level," said Ferguson of comparisons with Barcelona's Messi and Ronaldo. "He has been a breath of fresh air." Here are the odds for the Real Madrid vs Manchester United clash at Bet365: Real Madrid win - 13/20 Draw - 17/5 Manchester United win - 17/4
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