Yellow Submarine set for revenge mission

Whether because of the undoubted merits of his own side or Arsenal FC's disappointing record in Spain, coach Manuel Pellegrini is convinced Villarreal CF are set to surge towards the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Previous meeting
The 55-year-old Chilean has the utmost respect for both Arsenal and his opposite number Arsène Wenger, with whom he bares more than a slight resemblance; but he is fired by the belief that justice was not done the last time the teams met. That came in the last four three seasons ago when the Gunners bucked a trend that had seen them lose six of their previous nine games in Spain to earn a goalless draw and complete a 1-0 aggregate triumph. The coaches may share an attacking, flair-based approach but Pellegrini begs to differ with those who suggest he and his side were outdone by Wenger and Arsenal in 2006.

'Bitter taste'
"I didn't think Arsenal were favourites three years ago and nor, in the event, were they the better side," said Pellegrini. "That result, particularly the goalless draw in the second leg, still leaves a bitter taste because we went out despite outperforming them. There is a huge difference between the two clubs in terms of wealth, let's not lose perspective. But we both play on the same sized pitch and I expect my team to take the initiative this time. Arsenal are a little younger as a side than three years ago but have more experience. Players change but it's an Arsène Wenger team and they will provide a good footballing test."

Injury woe
Villarreal do not approach the meeting in the best frame of mind having lost 3-0 at UD Almería on Saturday, a game they ended with nine men following the dismissal of former Gunner Robert Pirès and, with all their substitutes made, winger Santi Cazorla was then carried off with a broken leg that rules him out for the season. Yet Marcos Senna and Cani return from injury and Pellegrini is optimistic; almost as optimistic, in fact, as Wenger. "Despite the respect we have for teams at this level, our only thoughts are of coming here and trying to win," said the Frenchman. "This season has been marked by big injuries and we have worked very hard to get here. And now we have important players back again we can push on."

'Big guns'
Two of those returning players took centre stage on Saturday, Cesc Fàbregas teeing up two goals for Emmanuel Adebayor in a 2-0 victory against Manchester City FC. Theo Walcott was also back, and is likely to be available in Villarreal despite suffering a minor knock, while Samir Nasri has recovered from flu but Robin van Persie has remained in London due to a hamstring problem. "We possess great team spirit which has helped us fight lots of negative criticism this season; we are stronger now," said Wenger, who is certainly not underestimating a Villarreal side that, in Pirès, contain "one of the greatest signings I ever made". He concluded: "This is a 50-50 match and we must play our half of that very well."

Pires puts history to one side

Robert Pires insists the Villarreal players have put 2006 out of their minds as they prepare to face Arsenal.

Three years ago the Gunners went to El Madrigal and successfully defended a 1-0 lead from the first leg to reach the Champions League final after Jens Lehmann produced a dramatic late penalty save.

Pires was a member of that Gunners side, but will be in the home team's ranks tonight.

"On the part of the players there is no thoughts of revenge, we simply want to be in the semi-finals, but I'm sure that fans have not forgotten and they will probably want us to avenge that loss," he said.

Pires' last appearance for Arsenal came in the 2006 Champions League final, which the Gunners lost 2-1 to Barcelona, before the Frenchman moved to Villarreal later that summer.

That move brought to an end a highly successful six-year spell at Arsenal under boss Arsene Wenger, and the 35-year-old recalls it was not easy to say goodbye to the Premier League outfit.

"It was a very difficult decision because I thought I was going to end my career with Arsenal, but Wenger did not have much confidence in me and I was luckily enough to be able to come to Villarreal," he said tonight.

"I didn't make a mistake because I'm very happy at Villarreal, which is a team with a lot of quality."

He added: "It's a very special tie for me because I played six years there, but now I defend Villarreal's colours and I can't forget that. The only wish I have now is get through this tie and into the semi-finals with Villarreal."

Arsenal make the trip to Spain in excellent form and Pires said: "They are coming here after going 17 games unbeaten but Villarreal are not afraid of this because the Champions League and league are very different in many ways.

"We have a lot of confidence because we usually play very well against the English teams and we have to play and enjoy the game as normal.

"People think that Villarreal cannot win the Champions League, but I think we could at least reach the final because we have a lot of quality and then in one game anything can happen."

Ronaldo rejects new Real rumours

Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected renewed speculation that he is poised to leave Manchester United for Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer.

Weekend reports suggested Real were set to make a £75m bid for the winger.

"It is always the same question," said Ronaldo ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie against Porto. "I am happy here. I think it is the right club."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson labelled the latest claims "pathetic" as he praised Ronaldo's return to form.

"We are still in three tournaments with a chance of winning them, and that in itself tells you Cristiano is at the right club, and he knows that," Ferguson said.I think he has settled down, his form has returned in the last few weeks and the goals are starting to come for him now. He could have had four goals yesterday [against Aston Villa].

"There is a sense of a big occasion about every game now. For players like Cristiano and the other top players in our team, they are now hopefully starting to go into overdrive."

Ronaldo's two goals against Villa on Sunday took his tally for the season to 20, as United returned to the top of the Premier League.

He said in October that he made the right decision to reject the Spanish side last summer and that he expected to stay at United beyond this season.

But in December, Real director Pedro Trapote was quoted as saying a deal for a transfer this summer had been struck.However, in the wake of president Ramon Calderon's resignation in January, a new round of elections on 14 June are likely to see Real again linked with some of the world's leading players.

While Ferguson has consistently tried to dampen down speculation United might win an unprecedented five trophies this season, having already won the Club World Cup and Carling Cup, Ronaldo believes it is a distinct possibility.

"We are the best team in England," the Portuguese added.

"We have shown that by being top of the table. That speaks for itself. We respect all our opponents but if we carry on winning, we will win the title again.

"We have a chance to win everything this season.

"First we have to beat FC Porto. After that, we must carry on."

Fergie: Rio is a huge doubt

Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect Rio Ferdinand to be fit for Manchester United's European tie against FC Porto.

Ferdinand missed United's 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday after picking up an injury playing for England against Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier.

The centre-half had also been struggling with a back problem prior to the England fixture and is unlikely to have recovered for the visit of Porto.

Ferguson will welcome back Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes for the European tie after the trio sat out the victory over Villa.

Park Ji-sung is also likely to come back into the starting line-up, while Ferguson will make a late decision on the fitness of Ryan Giggs.

"I don't think any of the injured players will be back against Porto," the United boss told MUTV. "But we do have the suspended players back which is good.

"'Vida' will play alongside Jonny Evans at the back with John O'Shea moving to right-back.

"Rooney and Scholes are also available which will give us a bit more penetration and experience, and Ji-sung Park will also be ready so I've got some good options for Tuesday.

"I'll have to assess how Ryan is after playing the 90 minutes against Villa.

"It's a big ask for someone at 35 years of age to play another game two days later at the kind of level we play."

Tuesday's Quarter-final first leg preview

The battleground is set for the kings of Europe as the Quarter Finals of Champions League start on Tuesday . Current Champions United are favourites to win it once again . But they have still got a lot of task ahead of them . In the other match English giants Arsenal takes on Villa Real


Man Utd v Porto


United have recovered from their recent drop in form now and they will be delighted to have Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes all return having been suspended for the win over Aston Villa. Ji-Sung Park is also available again while Federico Macheda is in the squad. Memories of the Portuguese champions knocking United out at the last-16 stage in 2004 are still fresh in the memory for many Red Devils fans.

Then under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, Porto grabbed a last-minute goal to draw 1-1 at the Theatre of Dreams to seal a 3-2 aggregate win, sending the 'Special One' dancing down the touchline.

The Portuguese side went on to be crowned European champions that year but since then, this season is the first time they have progressed further than the first knockout round.

Vidic will be welcomed back with open arms after the United defence struggled to cope with the aerial threat of John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor on Sunday.

But his regular centre-back partner Rio Ferdinand, who also missed the Villa clash with a groin injury, has failed to recover in time and has been ruled out.Striker Dimitar Berbatov is also out after injuring his ankle in the 2-0 defeat to Fulham before the international break.Ferguson will wait until the last moment to decide on the fitness of veteran pair Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, both of whom played the full 90 minutes on Sunday.


Porto defender Christian Sapunaru is a doubt after injuring his ankle at the weekend but he has still been selected in the 19-man squad.Midfielder Freddy Guarin is expected to start after he has recovered from a sprained ankle.Lisandro Lopez will also return after he was ruled out of Saturday's win over Guimaraes through suspension.But Porto will be without their captain Pedro Emanuel and Nelson Benitez with both injured. Jorge Fucile is also sidelined with injury while teenage ace Rabiola has been left out of the squad altogether.


Villarreal v Arsenal


Arsenal are at the top of their form in England . Their injury worries are over

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Villarreal with a groin injury.

The 25-year-old picked up the problem on international duty with the Netherlands and missed Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday.

Samir Nasri (virus) and Theo Walcott (knee) have been passed fit.

But Eduardo (groin), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky remain sidelined and Andrey Arshavin is ineligible. Van Persie is Arsenal's top scorer this season with 16 goals and helped the Gunners reach the last eight with the only goal in their last 16 first leg against Roma and a spot kick during the penalty shoot-out in the second leg.

Villarreal have injury problems of their own, with Spain winger Santi Cazorla set to miss the remainder of the season.The influential 24-year-old fractured his fibula during his side's 3-0 defeat at Almeria.Ruben Gracia (thigh) is in coach Manuel Pellegrini's line-up, while Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci is back to full fitness, but midfielder Bruno Sorriano is out.

Fergie wary of Barcelona

Sir Alex Ferguson believes a refocused Barca pose the biggest threat to Man United's hopes of winning the Champions League.

English sides have once again dominated the world's premier club competition this season, with United one of four teams from the Barclays Premier League to reach the quarter-finals - along with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

It is the Red Devils' bitter rivals, Liverpool, who have been pinpointed as the team in form following their 5-0 aggregate mauling of Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last 16.

However, despite his team's 4-1 defeat at the hands of Rafael Benitez's Reds earlier this month, Ferguson insists it is Barcelona - who United cannot meet until May's final - who are the real class of the field.

"Barcelona are the form team, they have been terrific this season and everyone is taking notice of them," he said.

"Their first-half performance against Lyon in the second leg of the first knock-out round (which they won 5-2 at the Nou Camp) was absolutely brilliant - they were four up in no time.

"They can be a threat to anybody and are quite rightly one of the favourites. The English teams have proven the strength of the Premier League in recent years.

"Last season we had three in the semi-finals and two in the final, the previous year there were three in the semis and Liverpool made it to the final.

"But we have to recognise that our threats don't just come from England, the big one will come from Barcelona."

The Catalans won the Champions League in 2006 under the guidance of Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard, who developed a side renowned for their offensive brilliance.

A recent, brilliant 6-0 mauling of Malaga in La Liga showed that facet of their play remains intact, but Ferguson believes it is the new-found defensive solidity engendered by current boss Pep Guardiola which has taken them to a new level.

"I'm not sure they have improved a lot from when we played them last season but they have had a better defensive record since Guardiola took over as coach last year," Ferguson told Inside United.

"There has maybe been a bit more concentration on defending than there had been in previous times. That's not a criticism of Frank Rijkaard, I just think Guardiola has brought in the awareness that defending is just as important as attacking.

"Gerard Pique, for instance, left us to go back there and has done really well for them. We always knew of his abilities - good talent, mobility and a winning mentality - so I think he's improved them.

"They got off to a great start to the season and it wasn't until January that they hit a blip and that happens to everyone. They're over that now, so they'll be the threat."

Ancelotti impressed by Reds

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Rafa Benitez's Liverpool are the hardest team to play against in Europe.

The Reds overturned a 3-0 deficit to beat Milan on penalties in the Champions League final in 2005 and they have consistently excelled in the competition in recent years.

Liverpool crushed Real Madrid last month to advance to the quarter-finals, while they are also mounting a strong challenge for the Premier League title.

Manchester United remain in pole position to clinch top spot but Ancelotti admits he is always more wary of Liverpool.

The Italian has great respect for Rafa Benitez and feels the Merseysiders can be unstoppable at times.

"Liverpool are the hardest team to play against in Europe," Ancelotti said in the Daily Mirror.

"Benitez is a great coach. He has a well-organised defence and the perfect counter-attack.

"To play against them is always dangerous. Manchester United are stronger, but they let you play. Liverpool don't."

Ancelotti, who has been linked with the manager's role at Chelsea, has also paid tribute to Guus Hiddink.

Hiddink will stay in charge of the Blues until the end of the season and Ancelotti would not be surprised if he was successful at Stamford Bridge.

He explained: "Hiddink is the coach I regard most highly. Professionally he is really good.

"He has done well everywhere he has gone. I like him as a person."