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Manchester Utd look to break mold as campaign starts

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

No club has retained the Champions League since the format was introduced in 1992 — but Manchester United will look to break the mold when they embark on this season’s campaign at home to Villarreal of Spain today.

The high-octane win on penalties over Chelsea in Moscow in May gave manager Sir Alex Ferguson his second triumph and now he sees a personal hat-trick within reach — even if the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, not to forget Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Barcelona would beg to differ.

Both triumphs overseen by Sir Alex were seat-of-the-pants affairs, with the last-gasp turnaround against Bayern Munich in 1999 and then the spotkick drama four months ago.

The Red Devils still have a way to go when it comes to putting their medals on the table alongside those of nine-times winners Real, seven-times champions AC Milan and Liverpool, five times kings of Europe.

But Ferguson says his men are hell bent on narrowing the gap as they bid to emulate AC Milan, the last team to win back-to-back European Cup crowns in 1990.

“Winning in Moscow was so important because there was an imbalance in our club’s history given the importance we place, and have always placed, on European football,” Ferguson said.

“When you consider that teams like Bayern Munich have won this trophy four times, Ajax four, Liverpool five, AC Milan seven times and Real Madrid nine you see how far short of that group we were. That group is our target now — it has to be,” he said.

But before United can join the real elite of European soccer they must deal with the likes of Villarreal, whom Ferguson dubs “a very strong side” after their runner-ups finish in La Liga last season.

Also in United’s group are Scottish side Celtic, the first British club to win the European Cup — a year before United’s 1968 success.

The Celts, coached by Gordon Strachan, who tasted a Cup Winners Cup success with Ferguson at Aberdeen before following him to Old Trafford, take on Denmark’s Aalborg, who are managed by former Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch.

Arsenal travel to Dynamo Kiev in Group G.

Bayern Munich travel to Group F rivals Steaua Bucharest while French table-toppers Lyon have an awkward opener at home to Italy’s Fiorentina.

Real Madrid should swat newcomers Bate Borisov of Belarus in Group H but Juventus may find Russian UEFA Cup winners and Manchester United’s Super Cup conquerors Zenit St Petersburg quite a handful.
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