Berns night
Published: 2 hrs ago
ALEX FERGUSON has warned his Manchester United troops they cannot blow their ‘acid test’ in the Bernabeu.
United take on Real Madrid in tonight’s Champions League blockbuster.
And boss Fergie believes if they topple the Spaniards, they can go all the way to Euro glory.
He said: “This is the acid test, no doubt about that, and we have to get through to win this competition.
“This is so important to both clubs, we cannot think of failing.”
Asked if his United team can emulate those of 1968, 1999 and 2008 and lift the European Cup, Ferguson added: “Yeah, I think so.
“They have a great spirit about them.
“People say this one is not as good as the teams of the past but sometimes you can have foggy recollections of teams from the past — I do myself.
“But this team doesn’t know when it is beaten, which is a good asset, and it has some quality players, too.
“Jose Mourinho summed up this tie perfectly, it’s a game everyone has waited for.
“It’s a fantastic challenge, two clubs who embrace the best parts of football.” Fergie’s side lead the Premier League title race by 12 points, while Mourinho’s Real are third in La Liga.
Ferguson added: “I think it is a good time to play them. We have a fantastic lead in the Premier League and we have everyone fit.”
Fergie dismissed the description of Wayne Rooney by one Madrid paper as a hooligan.
He said: “I’m not interested in what a Madrid paper says.
“He can’t speak or read Spanish, so we will be all right.”