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| Edwin Van Der Sar |
Edwin van der Sar has admitted that Manchester United are determined to secure top spot in their Champions League group in order to avoid Europe's heavyweights in the first knockout stage.
United host Valencia at Old Trafford on Tuesday, and Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention to rest his big players even though their place in the last 16 has already been confirmed.
He said: "We will be playing a strong side because we want to top the group. Real are top of their group, Barcelona are top, Bayern Munich are top.
"It's not that you're afraid of them but you want to keep them out of the road until later."
The Red Devils need just one point that would see them finish at the top of Group C, thus avoiding Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16.
Van der Sar feels that his team's chances of progress would be better served by taking a route to Wembley that avoids the Spanish giants.
He said: "It is quite clear. We are through now but we want to get top spot in order to avoid any of the bigger teams in the earlier rounds.
"That is what we want to do against Valencia."
Sir Alex Ferguson's men can go into Tuesday's game with confidence, after four successive wins since their draw with Rangers, and are yet to concede a goal.
Completing a whole group stage without conceding would represent a new record for United, and Van der Sar is pleased, even though he acknowledges that tougher tests await.
"So far we have not played against the biggest teams in the Champions League. Maybe that has something to do with it," he said. "When you start playing a higher standard of opposition it is going to become more difficult."
Valencia's visit to Old Trafford comes six days before United entertain Premier League leaders Arsenal, so Ferguson could view Tuesday as an essential part of the preperation for his senior players.
United host Valencia at Old Trafford on Tuesday, and Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention to rest his big players even though their place in the last 16 has already been confirmed.
He said: "We will be playing a strong side because we want to top the group. Real are top of their group, Barcelona are top, Bayern Munich are top.
"It's not that you're afraid of them but you want to keep them out of the road until later."
The Red Devils need just one point that would see them finish at the top of Group C, thus avoiding Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16.
Van der Sar feels that his team's chances of progress would be better served by taking a route to Wembley that avoids the Spanish giants.
He said: "It is quite clear. We are through now but we want to get top spot in order to avoid any of the bigger teams in the earlier rounds.
"That is what we want to do against Valencia."
Sir Alex Ferguson's men can go into Tuesday's game with confidence, after four successive wins since their draw with Rangers, and are yet to concede a goal.
Completing a whole group stage without conceding would represent a new record for United, and Van der Sar is pleased, even though he acknowledges that tougher tests await.
"So far we have not played against the biggest teams in the Champions League. Maybe that has something to do with it," he said. "When you start playing a higher standard of opposition it is going to become more difficult."
Valencia's visit to Old Trafford comes six days before United entertain Premier League leaders Arsenal, so Ferguson could view Tuesday as an essential part of the preperation for his senior players.
