ITALY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and player Ryan Giggs ahead of their first leg Champion League quarter final match against AS Rome

Manchester United is ready to face AS Rome in the first leg of Champions League's quarter finals, aware of the great home record Roma is holding, Coach Sir ALex Ferguson told a news conference on Tuesday (April 3). "It's a big challenge and Roma have a big, fantastic home record, I think the have 19 games at home they haven't lost. So It's a formidable task, but then that's why we love European football' he said. Coach Ferguson also replied to comment on his alleged low consideration of Rome captain and idol, Francesco Totti. Totti, who is revered by many Italians as the country's best footballer, was stung when Ferguson forgot to name him as one of the players his side would need to watch out for. "Ferguson, you will learn who Totti is. He will see personally. I hope to make him remember my name," Totti told Italian satellite broadcaster SKY. 'Do you think we prepare for big games without discussing the various threats and dangers against us? Of course we do' said Ferguson. 'Totti is one of the most important players of the team and I don't know whether it's been lost in translation or not, it doesn't matter, I don't care' he said. Manchester Utd are in the running for three trophies this year, the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. "We are in a great position this season and in three trophies so hopefully we can fulfill that. It's essential because we definitely got the players, and the ability', said their veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs. United's injury-hit 19-man squad travelled to Rome without Nemanja Vidic, who has broken his collar-bone and is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season. South Korean forward Park Ji-sung was a surprise omission but Louis Saha and midfielder Darren Fletcher were included in the party, although the French striker is unlikely to be risked from the start having just recovered from a hamstring injury. Both teams have been in good form in Europe with Roma keeping a clean sheet in their last three Champions League matches and United winning their last three without conceding a goal in the last two. United and Roma have never met in European competition and the English side will be looking to improve on their poor record in Italy of just two wins in 11 matches. Probable teams: AS Roma: 32-Doni; 77-Marco Cassetti, 21-Matteo Ferrari, 5-Philippe Mexes, 2-Christian Panucci; 16-Daniele De Rossi, 13-Cristian Chivu; 11-Rodrigo Taddei, 20-Simone Perrotta, 30-Mancini; 10-Francesco Totti Manchester United:1-Edwin Van der Sar; 6-Wes Brown, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 22-John O'Shea, 4-Gabriel Heinze; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 11-Ryan Giggs, 16-Michael Carrick, 18-Paul Scholes; 8-Wayne Rooney, 20-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

ITN Source | April 4, 2007

Tags:. .alex. .threats. .germany. .injury. .soccer