SAF to avoid Europe's Biggest Clubs In Last 16 by Finishng top in the Champions League Group Stage

Sir Alex Ferguson has called on his Manchester United team to take top spot in Champions League Group C in order to avoid Europe's biggest clubs in the next round. A point against Valencia would confirm the Red Devils as group winners

A point in Tuesday night's game at home to Valencia would see Ferguson's side win their group and in doing so, be likely to avoid Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, all of whom are currently leading their groups, in the round of 16.

Ferguson spoke of the importance of grabbing top spot, as well as Barcelona's 5-0 demolition of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in last Monday's El Clasico.

He said: “With Barcelona, if you get them on one of their good days, they can do that to anyone. It was a marvellous performance but even before the Champions League started, they would have been one of the favourites anyway.

"They have days, though, like everyone else, when they can be beaten. But the sensible approach is to try to avoid the bigger hitters like Real, Barca and Bayern Munich, the teams who are number one in their groups at the moment.

 

“We can only do that if we do finish first in our group and that is what we want to do.”