Man Utd boosted as Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea report fit for Inter Milan

10 March 2009 14:01
Manchester United v Inter Milan Kick-off: Wed Mar 11, 7.45pm; Old Trafford, Manchester TV: Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports HD2Radio: BBC Radio Five Live England international Ferdinand limped off with an ankle injury during the 4-0 FA Cup win over Fulham on Saturday, while O'Shea – Ferguson's only fit right-back – had been rated as a doubt But both trained this morning as United prepare to face Jose Mourinho's side after the first leg of the second-round tie at the San Siro finished goalless. Ferguson said: 'They've both trained for the first time and we're pleased about that. It was an important time after the injuries on Saturday but they're both fit and they'll play. 'The games are coming thick and fast now and as it happened we picked up injuries with Ferdinand and O'Shea. 'O'Shea was more precautionary but with Ferdinand's injury we had to start thinking about alternatives and that's what happens when you're playing Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. "Once we got Saturday out of the way we had two teams, one with Ferdinand in it and one without him in it and that was on Sunday afternoon.' Ferguson knows that his side go into the game as favourites to progress, with the Scot even suggesting earlier this week that he suspected the Italians – themselves weakened by a raft of defensive injury problems - might play for penalties. His counterpart has dismissed such suggestions and is no doubt confident he can mastermind yet another triumph over Ferguson, against whom he has lost just once in 13 prior meetings. Ferguson said: "It proves I'm not infallible and anyone you play in football you're vulnerable against. You can lose football matches. I don't think about personal records to be honest. I look at the football club and think that we're right to be proud of the football club and what we've achieved since I've been here. It doesn't bother me one bit about Mourinho's record against me. "I once had a record at Aberdeen where I couldn't lose at a certain club and I went there with nine reserves and still won 5-0. What can you say about football? It's a strange game and tomorrow may be even stranger.'

Source: Telegraph