Guide to Champions League 2007/08! Manchester United

MANCHESTER UNITED
English champions
Champions League pedigree: European Champions 1968, 1999

THE LOW DOWN:
United appeared to be back at the top table of European football as they went so close to glory in last season's Champions League, while regaining the league title in England.

A summer of lavish spending should have put Sir Alex Ferguson's men in prime position to challenge on all front, but some misfortune at the start of their domestic season put them on the back foot and it will be fascinating to see if they can recover some composure.

TECHNICAL AREA:
There is nothing left in the game for Ferguson to learn and many believe the 65-year-old is extending his career in a bid to land the second Champions League crown to cement his legend.

A 4-4-2 man when he goes at teams in the Premier League, his tendency to play with a lone front man in Europe has not always been successful, so he may opt for the more attacking approach that helped United to record a famous 7-1 win against Roma in last season's quarter-finals.

Finding the right balance in a midfield with classy options such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick will not be easy.

WOW FACTOR:
Ronaldo took time to prove he had the ability to sparkle in the Champions League, but he answered all his critics last season as he added some much needed maturity to his sublime natural talent.

The skills of new-boys Nani and Carlos Tevez gives Ferguson additional attacking options, but United can never be accused of lacking panache. The most thrilling side in European football last season, their determination to entertain sometimes comes at the expense of defensive duties.

THE BIG BUY:
As AC Milan ended United's Champions League challenge at the semi-final stage last season, all observers suggested they were lacking a gutsy midfielder to compare with Genaro Gattuso, the Italian who had such a dominant game in the San Siro rain that night.

Ferguson has tried to remedy that weakness by signing England midfielder Owen Hargreaves for £17m from Bayern Munich and while the fee seems more than a little weighty, this diminutive powerhouse performer will not let United down. Bursting with energy and determination, the Canadian-born star has won this competition before and wants another winners medal.

THE TENDER SPOT:
There is always a suspicion that United's defence will give you a chance in a game and against the best sides in Europe, one mistake can be fatal.

Centre-back Rio Ferdinand can look like a world beater at times, but he has a tendency to lose concentration from time to time and while partner Nemanja Vidic is brave as they come, his determination to get stuck in often leads to yellow cards and injuries. The pair were badly missed when they were injured at a crucial phase of last season and time will tell whether United are better equipped to cope this time.

United also look to be short of a body in the striking department after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's unfortunate retirement and early season injuries to Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha gave Ferguson major concerns. United are a real threat at full strength, but they cannot afford too many injuries up front.

HOT GOSSIP:
Tottenham's Bulgarian hit-man Dimitar Berbatov looks set to end up at Old Trafford and if his current club struggle in the first half of this season, a January move can not be ruled out.

The other big transfer talking point of the summer in England also featured United and while some of the game's luminaries have a problem with Tevez moving from club to club without ever being 'owned' by those paying his wages, there is little doubt that the stocky Argentine hit-man is good enough to be playing on a Champions League stage.

IDEAL LINE-UP:
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Giggs, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez

THE VERDICT:
A strong early showing in the Champions League should compensate a slow start to their domestic season and United deserve to be placed among the favourites for the title this time around.