It's do or die for ManU

by Lawrence Dutrieux

Sir Alex Ferguson has to endure a do or die ride on Wednesday night in what's become a Uefa Champions League roller coaster for Manchester United so far this season.

ManU, who have not been eliminated in the group stages of the league since 1994-95, face that very prospect when they head to Portugal next week.

A confident side in Benfica awaits Sir Alex at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon on Wednesday (SS2, 6.00pm) in what is the last round of the League's group stages. Blow it here and the Red Devils will not make the key knockout rounds in February and March.

ManU are currently third in Group D's table and are behind Villarreal and Lille who are first and second respectively. Benfica are bottom but are only one point behind ManU.

So after next week's League rounds and ManU find themselves still in third spot, Sir Alex will have to settle for Uefa Cup contention instead.

Will the veteran ManU manager want to earn the only bit of silverware that has eluded him throughout his successful career in lieu of another grab at Euro-pean glory?

Fat chance I'd say, as just over a month ago there were calls for his head in the domestic scene after a torrid run early in the race for the Premiership title.

Now after three crucial consecutive victories in the Prem- iership, including the dramatic match that ended Chelsea's 40-game winning blitz, the Red Devils are second on the ladder, 10pts behind Jose Mourinho's 'special ones'.

However, Benfica's Dutch coach Ronald Koeman has made it perfectly clear that they are capable of scuppering any plans that Fergie has for Europe.

When the two teams last met in the league in September, Benfica played the best football at Old Trafford but lost 2-1. Koeman's side, which missed key players then, were unlucky to have let Ruud Van Nistelrooy snatch a late winning goal.

ManU's last league clash a fortnight ago became the stuff of desperation and frustration, as stars such as Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy failed to deliver the killer blow at home against Villarreal in a 0-0 draw.

Read those names and then add the likes of Paul Scholes and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to the pot and one wonders why ManU are in strife in Europe.

But even if the woe is linked to the Roy Keane factor, if any manager can pull one out of the hat then it would be Sir Alex.

Danger men for ManU will be Nuno Gomes, Fabrizio Miccoli and winger Simano Sabrosa, who struck a stunning free kick at Old Trafford.

Statistics usually mean little in vital games, but it is a safe bet that nobody in Fergie's camp will remind him that it has been two years since they won an away fixture in Europe.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Liverpool are in a face off for top slot in group G at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday (ITV1, 7.30pm). Arsenal, who have more than qualified, host Ajax on Wednesday (SSX, 7.30pm).