SOCCER/Champions League and UEFA Cup draws: As part of the draw ceremony yesterday, representatives from Manchester United posed with the Champions League trophy.
If they are to lay their hands on it for real, the players will have to pass the ultimate test after being paired with Real Madrid in the quarter-final. It is both the dream and nightmare tie.
The thought of facing the European champions and their stars such as Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo must fill United fans with excitement and dread in equal measure. If Alex Ferguson's team prevail, they will meet Juventus or Barcelona for a place in the final they are hosting.
Real somewhat stuttered into the last eight, finishing second behind Milan, but this is probably the toughest draw for United. Certainly it is the most glamorous. The clubs are the richest on the planet, drip with talent and over the past five seasons Real have won three Champions Leagues and United one. "These are the two biggest names in the world of football," said Ferguson.
The manager sounded confident rather than awed, saying he was "sure" his team could "match" Real. Three years ago United went out to the Spanish club in the last eight and this is the definitive gauge of their progress. With the first leg in Madrid on April 8th, Ferguson's team again enjoy a supposed advantage. In 2000, though, they drew 0-0 in Madrid and then lost 3-2 at Old Trafford.
"It will be a fantastic quarter-final and I think it will be better than last time," said Ferguson. "I think both teams are better. Real Madrid have certainly added excellent players in Ronaldo, Figo and Zidane.
"We got a good result in Madrid but you worry about nil-nils away from home. The second leg we played with our hearts not our legs and chased the game after going behind to a Roy Keane own-goal when we needed to be more patient.
"If we play with our heads we will give ourselves a better chance. I think we've improved in that and experience is the main factor. Keane will definitely be back. I'm not sure about (Juan Sebastian) Veron, which is a blow because he has been outstanding in Europe."
Three seasons ago Raul scored twice at Old Trafford and it is a measure of Real's quality that some overlook him at first when reeling off the names of the team's most feared players. The striker scored five goals in the second-phase group. Though Real's progress was not as serene as United's, a win at Lokomotiv Moscow taking them through in the last match, there is no doubting their brilliance.
"When you get Real Madrid in a quarter-final tie you know you are now on the business end of the game," said Ferguson.
They will ensure a rigorous test for United's defence, which is much changed from the last meeting when Raimond van der Gouw played in goal and Jaap Stam, Henning Berg and Denis Irwin joined Gary Neville.
United and Real have met three times in the European Cup - in 1957, 1968 and 2000 - and each time the winners have gone on to lift the trophy.
"With all respect for what lies in front of us, we've got the team that will take us to the final," said Zidane, though goalkeeper Iker Casillas said: "If we have one bad game in the quarter-final they are capable of smashing us."
Valencia's game against Internazionale means they face the coach, Hector Cuper, who led them to two finals. Ajax face Milan, whom they beat in the 1995 final and who beat them in 1969.
Though many in Spain hope for a semi-final between Real and Barcelona, United plan to spoil that. Their preference, if they progress, would surely be to meet Juventus, whom they beat twice last month.
Meanwhile, Celtic officials will visit Portugal next week in an effort to secure extra tickets for the club's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg with Boavista.
The Estadio Do Bessa is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2004 European Championship and is operating with a 15,000 capacity. Thus Celtic, under UEFA regulations, are entitled to only 750 tickets for the encounter on April 24th, nowhere near enough to satisfy what will be a huge demand from travelling fans A brief meeting between the clubs after yesterday's draw gained agreement for the figure to be raised closer to 1,000, with Celtic hoping there will be a further increase once a stadium inspection takes place.
The problem has cast a shadow over Celtic's first European semi-final for 29 years, although nothing could wipe away the jubilation of their 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
With Lazio and Porto meeting in the other semi-final, the Scottish champions have been handed the less hazardous route to the May 21st final in Seville.
"I'm just very pleased to be in the semi and we will give them plenty of respect," said Martin O'Neill. "The good news in all this is that better players may want to come here now. We need a stronger squad and if we want to continue to make progress, we need better players."
