FC Copenhagen v Manchester Utd: A year to the day since Roy Keane went on MUTV to "nail certain players", Manchester United arrived in Denmark as the Premiership's top side and on the point of qualification to the Champions League knockout phase, yet still Alex Ferguson is not satisfied.
The club have come a long way since Keane's tirade, but Ferguson still craves a midfielder to replace his former captain, and he confirmed for the first time that he planned to resurrect a deal for Owen Hargreaves.
Ferguson had to choose his words carefully given Bayern Munich's threats to report him for making clandestine approaches, but the manager must be confident of finally getting his man considering that his normal modus operandi is to deflect any questions about potential transfer business.
"We are interested," he said, in what may have been a deliberate attempt to lift Hargreaves's spirits as he recovers from a broken leg. United are aware the England international has pinned his hopes on a move during the January transfer window and Ferguson made it clear the club would try to succeed where they failed in August. Pressed further, he said: "I can't give you anything more in terms of an update because we haven't spoken to Bayern."
The obvious question would then be how Ferguson, if successful, plans to fit three into two in the centre of midfield. Paul Scholes, arguably, is playing as well as at any stage of his career, an amazing feat given that Ferguson revealed that the player, who will be 32 this month, still had "slight haziness" affecting his vision after 10 months of eye problems. Michael Carrick, the £18-million acquisition now wearing Keane's number 16 shirt, had an ordinary start after joining from Tottenham, but his form has improved of late.
Carrick is seen by Ferguson as the long-term replacement for Scholes, with Hargreaves playing a more defensive role. At present, however, Scholes looks as though he could play for another five years and United's prime deal-maker, the chief executive, David Gill, will not need to point out to Ferguson that Bayern may provide challenging opposition when it comes to thrashing out Hargreaves's future.
Far less complicated, on the list of Gill's jobs for the new year, will be tying Ryan Giggs to a new contract. United are to offer their longest-serving player a one - or two-year extension in January when, theoretically, he would be free to speak to other clubs. Giggs, who will be 33 this month, has been outstanding so far this season and has already indicated he wants to stay at Old Trafford for the remainder of his career.
Ferguson reported that Giggs's hamstring problems had flared up again, and Gary Neville, with a recurrent calf injury, and Louis Saha, with a sore knee, were also notable absentees for a match that should, in theory, confirm United's passage to the knockout stages. The 1999 winners have won their opening three group games, though Ferguson recoiled when it was put to him that the recovery process was almost complete. "There's been no real recovery as yet," he said. "We've played only three bloody games. No, the real test will come when we get to the knockout stage."
He took the point, though, that United were in the process of proving many of their doubters wrong, chief among them Keane. "The way Chelsea have been in the last couple of years, everyone was written off, not just us. The critics forecast Chelsea would run away with the title and, given the last two seasons, that's not a surprise. This is the first time they have had a challenge. It's early days yet but we're doing okay in Europe and if we're still up there (in the Premiership) come April we'll have one hell of a chance."
Neville's absence tonight will mean a return to the team for Wes Brown, whereas Gabriel Heinze replaces Patrice Evra at left back. Ferguson may also rest Scholes or Carrick to give John O'Shea a run out at the Parken stadium, where the pitch, cut up after a Bruce Springsteen concert at the weekend, may be United's biggest enemy. ... Guardian Service
