Manchester United Football Club News

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

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Fergie wary of Totti

03 Apr 2007 - 08:27:22

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Sir Alex Ferguson has told his players to ensure Francesco Totti is tightly marked when Manchester United take on AS Roma in a Champions League quarter-final first leg encounter at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Italy international has been in outstanding form this term and was instrumental in the Rome side's last 16 victory against fancied Lyon.

Ferguson warned: "Totti is the architect of everything they do and we have to decide how best to deal with him.

"The issue is what we do with our centre-backs and whether we push one on to Totti but we can't let him control the game. It's a tricky one but we have to resolve it as best we can.

"We're not under-estimating our task because it'll be difficult, and it's probably the toughest of all the quarter-finals. It's a game where we'll have to be right tactically because, if we're not, we're in trouble.

"The tie requires two good performances, there's no question about that.

"We have a lot of respect for Roma. They beat Lyon, who I regarded as one of the favourites, in the last round and didn't lose a goal."

United will be without injured defensive duo Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville, so Wes Brown is expected to start in Rome.