Ferguson:
"This season's European campaign will, of course, have added poignancy.
"We set out every year to win this competition but there is no doubt that, while the club's focus is resolutely on the present, many minds will wander inevitably to our tragic past."
About the match:
"I think we have got a wee bit to go in terms of formulating our team.
"Rooney will be involved. His training performances since last Monday have been excellent. But what I start with I probably won't finish with. I think that if we can get Saha to stay fit, it would be a big bonus because he is different from the rest. I think he is key.
"There is no question of the ability of the lads.
"Tevez is getting there, fitness wise; he did well for us on Saturday. Rooney has only had one game but has been training hard.
"When you have got these players with that ability there is no question it bodes well for us. They are intelligent enough, there is no question about that. I think Ronaldo is different from the other two in that he can play in the wide positions. I think Tevez and Rooney prefer to play central.
"It gives us a good chance in the Champions League this season because we have got the experience of playing European games.
"Scholes and Giggs, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Saha, Tevez, Nani can win games."
On Ronaldo return to Sporting Lisbon:
"It is always difficult when you sign a boy of that age.
"He has to grow and develop and also get used to living in another country, which is never easy. Under those circumstances, the rapidity of his rise has been absolutely amazing. Now we are seeing a maturity in his performance of someone in their mid-20s."
Ronaldo:
"It is maybe my second home.
"I played here for seven years. I have a lot of friends here. In Benfica everyone booed. I think it will be a good reception [tonight]."
The Independent:
It is for matches like these, away from home against fluid, resourceful opposition, that Sir Alex Ferguson paid Bayern Munich £18m for Owen Hargreaves in the summer. It is almost inevitable, therefore, that when Manchester United take to the field against Sporting Lisbon tonight, Hargreaves will be at home in Cheshire, watching on television.
The England midfielder, a Champions League winner with Bayern in 2001, was yesterday denied a European debut for United due to the thigh strain which also ruled him out of England duty last week.
Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and long-term injury victims Mikaël Silvestre, Park Ji Sung and Ben Foster are also absent, but Wayne Rooney did travel and may make his first appearance since sustaining a broken foot on the first day of the season. Rooney is likely to be on the bench but he admitted he is desperate to return to action again.
"I've been dying to play and I let the manager know I was ready. I feel I could have played a few weeks ago and I'm a bit disappointed I haven't. But it was probably best in the long run."
United have only met Sporting once in competition, winning 4-1 at Old Trafford then losing 5-0 in Lisbon. But as that was in the European Cup-winners Cup 47 seasons ago it is hardly relevant. More significant is the friendly in 2003. A little-known 17-year-old winger was so impressive in Sporting's 3-1 win that Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs spent time on the flight home imploring Ferguson to sign him. Within weeks a £12m fee had been exchanged for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson is concerned with how the referee treats Ronaldo than the supporters. The official is the German Herbert Fandel who has previously dismissed Roy Keane and Paul Scholes in European competition. When asked about Fandel, Ferguson buried his head in his hands before adding, probably tongue in cheek: "We need a supply of Mogadon [a sedative]."
Daily Mail:
The sight of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the plane to Portugal yesterday morning was both poignant and fitting as the hero of Manchester United's 1999 Champions League triumph begins to learn the ropes as a coach.
Solskjaer's career as a striker of remarkable instinct has certainly ended prematurely. Those of his ilk do not come along that often.
But in the Jose Alvalade Stadium tonight the Norwegian will look down on United's future.
Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez will share a football field in United colours for the first time as manager Sir Alex Ferguson finally parades the triumvirate he believes will win him another Champions League.
With Rooney cleared to play after his early recovery from a broken foot and Argentina striker Tevez given further opportunity to shake off the effects of a long summer, this is almost the United that Ferguson envisaged when he sat down with his staff last May and identified just how they could take the extra step once more in Europe.
However, Owen Hargreaves — the England midfielder signed in the summer from Bayern Munich — will be missing with thigh trouble.
We will have to wait a while longer to see the European bow of the player that Ferguson feels will make his team defensively secure in the competition.
But seeing Ronaldo, 22, Rooney, 21, and Tevez, 23, together — not to mention veteran forwards Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes — is a sight that will warm the hearts of those who hold United's attacking traditions dear.
BBC Team News:
Wayne Rooney returns to the squad for the first time after fracturing his foot on the first day of the season.
John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher (both knee), Park Ji Sung and Ben Foster (ligament problems) are all out.
Defender Mikael Silvestre has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing cruciate ligaments on Saturday.
Right-back Gary Neville is still short of full fitness after a calf strain.
Carlos Tevez, Anderson and former Sporting player Nani will get their first taste of Champions League action with the Red Devils.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Pique, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Gibson, Eagles, Martin, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, Dong.
BBC Weather:
28°C. Sunny spells and rain is forecast for today.