Reds' Euro rivals confident

"Last season's 7-1 defeat in Manchester is the past, this is a new tournament. We will do our best knowing that we have everything that is needed to go through."

- Luciano Spalletti


Roma coach Luciano Spalletti insists last season's drubbing at the hands of United will have no bearing on the new Champions League campaign.

The Reds hammered the Italians 7-1 at Old Trafford in April's quarter-final, second leg, sealing an 8-3 aggregate passage into the last four. But, having been drawn in Group F alongside United, Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kiev, Spalletti is confident of progress.

"Last season's 7-1 defeat in Manchester is the past, this is a new tournament," he said. "We will do our best knowing that we have everything that is needed to go through.

"It's a tough group but in this kind of competition you need to have great qualities whoever the opponents are and Roma have great qualities, considering what we have done so far."

United and Roma are favourites to qualify, according to Sporting coach Paulo Bento, who will renew acquaintances with former players Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

"Manchester United and Roma are, of course, favourites but we have to do our part to oppose that," he said. "They [Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani] are two players that we admire and they have a sentimental link to Sporting.

"It's a difficult group but in a competition like this there are no easy teams. We want to do better than we did last season and that means progress in European competitions and getting to the next phase of the Champions League."

There are no glaringly weak sides in Group F, and Dynamo Kiev coach Anatoliy Demyanenko is adamant that little will separate the four teams.

"We are in one of the toughest groups," he said. "We met both Manchester United and Roma not long ago and I believe they have grown stronger since. We are not afraid. We will try and win every match."