Manchester United FC: Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United face a stern test in this season’s Champions League

Aug 28 2009 by Our Correspondent, Daily Post

Manchester United FC: United were drawn in Group B – not so much the Group of Death as the Group of Jetlag – with the prospect of long-distance trips to Besiktas in Turkey and CSKA Moscow as well as strong opponents in German champions Wolfsburg.

Last season’s beaten finalists look to have the most daunting draw of all the British clubs, who all avoided the European heavyweights of Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Milan sides.

Chelsea are in Group D with Porto, Atletico Madrid and Apoel Nicosia, Liverpool face Lyon, Fiorentina and Debreceni in Group E while Arsenal have perhaps the easiest test with AZ Alkmaar, Olympiacos and Standard Liege in Group H.

Rangers were drawn against Sevilla, Stuttgart and Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni – coached by Dan Petrescu – in Group G.

Ferguson is not a fan of long away trips in Europe, and he said: “These are difficult ties, especially the trips to Russia and Turkey.

“CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult.

“We also know the quality that we’re up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season.”

Ferguson’s mood will not have been lightened by the knowledge that United face two major Premier League clashes after their long trips – they are at home to Manchester City after travelling to Turkey and away at Liverpool four days after their Moscow journey.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis insisted they would not be complacent but – having been written off by many people – they were targeting the final in Madrid in May.

Gazidis said: “A lot of people might say we are the favourites to win this group but we have not played any of these teams before and they are all champions of their respective leagues.”

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was happy to have avoided the continental big guns, adding: “As a group there’s not much travel and generally we have to be happy with the draw.”