United strikeforce can be decisive says Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s in-form strikeforce can earn his team a potentially decisive away goal in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Chelsea.

Speaking on the eve of today’s showdown at Stamford Bridge, Ferguson said the heavyweight tie between the Premier League rivals may be settled in United’s favour if they could breach Chelsea’s defence.

“The name of the game is to go back to Old Trafford hopefully with a goal in our pocket, or hopefully even two goals,” Ferguson told a press conference at Lord’s, the home of English cricket.

“We want to make sure we go back to Old Trafford with a live chance to qualify. If we go back with some kind of advantage we’ll be very, very difficult to beat on our own ground.”

Ferguson’s strikers have found form at the right time, with Wayne Rooney netting a superb hat-trick in the win over West Ham.

Ferguson declined to comment on the disciplinary proceedings facing Rooney over his expletive-laden tirade at a television camera but said he believed the England striker would be on a high following the treble at Upton Park.

“Goals are what strikers are about,” Ferguson said. “When they score they think they’re on top of the world.

“I said at the start of the season if we can get two strikers who can score 20 goals we’re in with a chance of winning something.

“Wayne’s now on 13 I think, (Javier Hernandez) is on 17, Berbatov’s on 20. That’s a good return,” Ferguson added.

“I think that what’s kept us going there’s been a decent goal threat from us,” Ferguson said. “We have forwards who can win matches.”

The return from injury of Antonio Valencia had also strengthened United’s attacking options, Ferguson said.

“The return of Valencia has been a magnificent bonus for us. He’s been out of the game for six or seven months and it’s as if he’s never been away. That’s a big bonus,” he said.

Rooney sat out of United training yesterday with a bruised shin but will be fit for duty today.

Ferguson meanwhile brushed off United’s poor record at Stamford Bridge, a venue where they have not win since 2002.

“We used to have a fantastic record down at Chelsea for many many years. The last few years have been poor for us in terms of results. But we have played well and hopefully we can do that tomorrow,” he said.

Ferguson also doubted whether Chelsea would view their all-English battle as a chance to score revenge following their defeat on penalties to United in the 2008 final in Moscow.

“A European final decided on penalties is a sore one for the team that loses,” Ferguson acknowledged.

“I don’t believe that players think about revenge. Something that happened three years ago goes out of your mind pretty quickly.

“The motivation to win this quarter-final is greater than to think about what happened three years ago.”