Source: Eurosport
United Target Unique Trophy Defence
Sir Alex Ferguson admits he may be tempting fate, but the Manchester United manager has his eyes fixed on creating another chapter of footballing history.[LNB]In the euphoria of the Champions League final victory over Chelsea in Moscow last year, it was pointed out to Ferguson that no team has managed to retain the trophy since it changed from the European Cup.[LNB]Milan, Ajax and Juventus were all beaten finalists in the mid 90s a year after becoming European champions, but no side have managed to go one better.[LNB]Yet it was in Moscow, with the celebratory bubbly still fizzing in his glass, that Ferguson started to turn his mind to a successful European title defence.[LNB]He said today: "When we won it in Moscow the point was made in the press conference about no side having ever retained the cup in the Champions League format.[LNB]"I didn't know that was the case at the time, but you say to yourself it would be great if we could be the first do that. We are good at winning things for the first time and maybe that is a good omen for us.[LNB]"Talk is cheap, but faint heart never won fair lady and it's something I would dearly love to do.[LNB]"Some might say I am tempting fate but at Old Trafford we have always set our sights high.[LNB]"No one is saying it will be easy, and we will certainly need to enjoy that little rub of luck and freedom from injury that can make you or break you."[LNB]Edwin van der Sar, United's Dutch keeper, is one of the few players to have come close to retaining the trophy.[LNB]He won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and was also in goal as the Dutch side lost the final to Juventus on penalties 12 months later.[LNB]He believes United can go one better and hold onto their European crown.[LNB]Van der Sar said: "This side is much better equipped to retain the trophy than Ajax were in 1996.[LNB]"Then we had loads of injuries and we had a lot of young players who had to fill gaps left by older and more experienced players who had injuries and suspensions.[LNB]"We are certainly better equipped to do it and deal with it."[LNB]However, Van der Sar admits United cannot afford to make the same sort of defensive errors which saw Tottenham score twice in the first half on Saturday.[LNB]"The whole team was not happy the way we conceded against Spurs on Saturday," he added.[LNB]"You analyse it and learn from it. We have to make sure we have learnt our lesson. It is important in the first leg to keep Arsenal from scoring."[LNB]
