Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Fergie plays down pitch issue

20 Oct 2009 - 09:06:47

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Sir Alex Ferguson has played down concerns that his Manchester United players may struggle on an artificial pitch during their Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow.

The Luzhniki Stadium will host the Group B encounter on Wednesday and holds unhappy memories for English football.

England lost a vital Euro 2008 qualifier at the stadium, while Aston Villa were knocked out of last season's Europa League at the same venue.

But despite suggestions that United may struggle to adapt to an unfamiliar surface, Ferguson has played down the concerns.

"I have no issues with the pitch in Moscow," he said. "When 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.

"I watched CSKA's previous Champions League game and I didn't see any issue with it at all. It is a passing surface and we have good passers in our side."

Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney are among five United players that will miss the game.

Patrice Evra, Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher have also failed to recover from injuries in time to fly to the Russian capital.