Source: SKY_Sports
Ferguson - Pitch not an issue
Sir Alex Ferguson believes CSKA Moscow's artificial pitch will suit Manchester United's style of play.
United return to the venue of the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, where they famously beat Chelsea on penalties to win the tournament.
The defending champions handled the surface well on that occasion, and Ferguson sees no reason why Wednesday's trip should be any different.
"I watched CSKA's previous Champions League game and I didn't see any issue with it (the pitch) at all," said Ferguson.
"It is a passing surface and we have good passers in our side.
"When (English league sides) Luton and QPR had them all those years ago we always played well on them.
"We had a great record at those artificial pitches and that was when the artificial pitches weren't as good. The one in Moscow has a far better covering on it."
The United boss paid credit to his Russian opponents, saying his side have their work cut out to maintain top spot in Group B.
"The Champions League for a few years now has had a tremendous
amount of quality in it," he said.
"I think the Russian teams in particular have improved a lot in
the last few years thanks to big investment.
"There are a lot of Brazilian players in Russia now. So you can expect a difficult game there and it's a surface which we're not used to playing on."
Ferguson will be without the likes of Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher for the trip to Moscow.
Not wanting to risk further setbacks, he said: "Evra just had a little problem and we decided to leave him because we are quite well covered.
"I am hoping by Sunday Rooney, Fletcher and Giggs will be fit."
Asked his views on the charges issued by the FA over his verbal attack on Alan Whiley, he blasted: "Silly question gets no answer.
"We're at a press conference for a game on Wednesday. We're here to talk about that."
