From The Observer:
'Every game is a big game from now on in,' Ferguson says. 'I wouldn't like to say which is the most important, but it would be very satisfying to pick up three points against Juventus on Wednesday. That would give us nine points from our first three games, and I would be very confident of qualifying from that position. Once you are through to the quarter-finals you start smelling the final. At least I do.'
United finish their group games with a visit to Deportivo La Coruña, and ideally Ferguson would like qualification to be assured by then. With a home game against Basel still to come that should be easily achievable as long as United can take something from their upcoming two games against Juventus. They are possibly playing the Italians at the right time - Alessandro del Piero will miss both games with a thigh strain, and Marco Di Vaio has been in such disappointing form Juve are considering pushing Pavel Nedved forward to partner David Trezeguet - though Ferguson has far too much respect for the club and their manager to take anything for granted.
'I'm quite pleased we're getting them at Old Trafford first, their away form has not been great whereas our home form has been very good in Europe,' explains Ferguson. 'You always know what you are going to get with Juventus. They are consistent, experienced and difficult to play against, and I think the manager's got a lot to do with that.'
Ferguson's duels with Marcello Lippi began in 1996-97, the season United were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final. Juve were holders, and twice beat United 1-0 in the group stage. 'I think we were a bit overawed at that time,' Ferguson recalls. 'The margin in each game was narrow, but the gulf was quite big. By the time we played them in the semi-final in 1999 we had bridged the gap. Without question that was our best performance in Europe.'
Juventus are not quite as good as they were then, United just might be. Italian football is making a comeback, but the Milan teams are currently in the vanguard. The table does not tell you everything, though, otherwise it would be safe to assume Arsenal will go further than United in Europe. 'We have got a great deal of experience now, and that helps,' Ferguson says. 'People tell me that Italian clubs have improved, and that AC Milan are playing the best football in Europe at the moment, but we feel we have enough experience to handle most things now. The competition looks very open at the moment. Real Madrid only have one point. That tells you everything.'
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