Sir Alex relishes Euro tie

Sir Alex Ferguson feels United have a "good chance" of progressing in the Champions League after drawing Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. But the manager knows from experience that the Reds cannot underestimate the German side.

Bayern were the opponents for Sir Alex's finest hour as manager, of course, when United won 2-1 in dramatic fashion in the Nou Camp to cap 1999's extraordinary Treble triumph.

But in seven meetings with the Germans, that remains the Reds' only victory. Four matches ended in draws, while United have lost twice, both at the quarter-final stage in 2001 when Bayern gained revenge of sorts by knocking out Sir Alex's men.

"The history of playing Bayern in past European ties tells you it’s going to be a very difficult tie for us," Sir Alex told MUTV. "It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere in both games. They have a great stadium and a good pitch and we’re up against a good, experienced team."

The boss just hopes he can have a full strength side to take on Louis van Gaal's men. "Hopefully we’ll have everyone we need for the game and, if we do, then we have got a good chance."

Reds chief executive David Gill is pleased with how the route to the final in Madrid in May has panned out. "We’re playing well and Sir Alex and the players know what to do in the latter stages of this competition," he said. "We’ve got to be confident we can progress. The Bayern tie is very difficult but if we negotiate that successfully we’ve got a French team in the semis. So it’s looking good."

"Without doubt [it looks like a good route to the final]. But this is the best competition in club football so there should be eight great teams in the quarter-finals. We can’t get carried away. One of Sir Alex’s strengths is not to do that. We’ve got to concentrate on that first game, get them back to Old Trafford with an away goal, and hopefully we'll progress."

A tie against such a mighty European opponent will only focus the minds for the run-in. "This is what we want at the end of a season," Gill added. "We’ve got Liverpool this weekend, Bolton away next Saturday, then Bayern away, Chelsea at home and Bayern at home, so it’s a fantastic fixture list."

"The very fact we’re at the latter stages of two great competitions and we’ve got every chance of doing very well is what the club is about and what the players and manager are about."

From ManUtd.Com