POBORSKY WAS IN FOOTBALL HEAVEN

'Sir Alex Ferguson will be on the bench, and I'll be facing a few of my old team-mates on the pitch. I've absolutely no grudges towards United, but there's definitely an extra motivation to play at my best. I'll be trying twice as hard out there, believe me.'

'The fact that I had a chance to play for United will remain with me forever. they were my first big club - it was like being in football heaven.'

'I'd love to beat United and I think we're in with a chance. But it's difficult to see any weaknesses in their team. However, the fact that few people will expect us to get a result reduces the pressure on us.If we can get an early goal that would help, and of course we'll need to concentrate 100% for 90 minutes.”

'In my view, the main threat is definitely Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Give him a half chance and he'll score from any position. We've got to make sure we suffocate him in the box.'

Since leaving Old Trafford Poborsky has gone on to become his country's captain and most capped player, bringing up a century of appearances for the Czech Republic in August this year.

He says he owes a lot of that to United: 'It was United who gave me my first real chance in 'big football' and I'll always be grateful to them for that.'

'If there's one thing I would have done differently, I suppose I should have put more effort into learning English. I didn't speak any when I arrived, and my early days at United were very tough as a result. I didn't want to admit it at the time, but it was a big obstacle for me.'