Manchester United vs Marseille preview - Ferguson draws on experience in trophy hunt

Posted Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by PA

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is refusing to get ahead of himself in the club's bid for the treble.

Marseille are next on the agenda on Tuesday in the Champions League at Old Trafford after Arsenal were despatched in the FA Cup.

Then on Saturday, United face Bolton hoping for a victory that would increase their prospects of wresting the Barclays Premier League title from Chelsea.

Ferguson has been around the block so many times he is only taking small steps at this stage of the campaign with his side looking to build on a 0-0 draw from the first leg in France.

That would see United book a quarter-final place for the fifth successive season.

He said: "We are experienced enough to do what we are doing at the moment and that is taking each game as it comes. That's why the focus is on Marseille because we know it is going to be a hard game.

"It is nice to have a bit of apprehension about big ties, though. European games are always that way.

"It won't be any different tomorrow. We are playing a very experienced, powerful Marseille team. We will have to play well.

"I have watched them twice away from home against Monaco and against Rennes and they showed the qualities we will be up against.

"I thought Marseille were going for the 0-0 at home I must admit. Maybe they are the ones who are confident. They are a good team, who will try to hit us on the counter.

"In these games at Old Trafford and a home match in midweek it is always a terrific atmosphere. That does help us and hopefully we will get the result we want."

The victory against Arsenal came after successive defeats by Chelsea and Liverpool and sets up a derby semi-final against Manchester City.

Ferguson said: "This is always the question, you lose a game and it is how you recover. Saturday's performance brought that recovery.

"Tomorrow it is a different type of match. We need to get to a good level to win it."

Nani and Michael Carrick have handed Ferguson a boost by returning to the squad.

Nani was expected to be out until after the international break with a gashed leg but trained on Monday morning, as did Carrick, who has been troubled with calf and groin injuries.

Central defender Nemanja Vidic missed the session as he needed treatment for a knock but is expected to feature, as is Antonio Valencia, who returned from an ankle injury at the weekend.

Ferguson said: "It was a fantastic bonus to get 35 minutes from Antonio on Saturday, considering he has been out for such a long time.

"That fact that Antonio is available is a great boost for us. Hopefully it does help us. The team needs to step up and perform to win the league."

Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher remain among the absentees.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps admits his team will be the underdogs at Old Trafford but insists they can shock United after a run of five wins in six league games.

Marseille go into the game on the back of a victory at Rennes, where Ferguson was an interested spectator.

Deschamps said: "If you look at the match purely from a statistical point of view, Manchester United have not been defeated at home for a long time.

"They have conceded only one goal in seven Champions League games and are a very strong side, so it is a tough task.

"In addition they are one of four or five teams who have a realistic chance of winning the Champions League.

"On paper you would fully expect Manchester United to qualify. But we have a chance, a little opportunity. Football is not about statistics alone."

Marseille lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the campaign and Deschamps wants an improvement on that performance.

"We made some individual errors, " said the former France midfielder. "What I know is that at the highest level and playing against United they will give us nothing.

"It was a good result for them in the first leg and they are very experienced. Despite our good run in the league this is a very different game for us.

"It is a big step up and we have to come up with the right kind of challenge."

Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is relishing the task ahead.

He said: "United are a great side but we will be motivated as there is everything to play for.

"When you look at what they have achieved it is inspirational. There is respect for them, not fear. We believe we can achieve a victory."