Man United bid to join select league

Real know all about that, having won the continental crown five Times in a row between 1956 and 1960, while Bayern Munich — United’s victim in last season’s pulsating final — and Ajax managed three-in-a-row.

Even if a hat-trick would be asking a lot, United still want at least to emulate fellow English outfits Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, who each brought the Trophy home twice-in-a-row in a glorious period stretching from 1977 to 1980.

“You look at the history of the European Cup and the really memorable sides are the ones who have found out how to win it, then won it year after year,” he said.

“Real Madrid five years on the trot, Bayern Munich three, Ajax three and Liverpool four times in eight years.

“Now we’ve got the chance to win it regularly. This may be a golden period for Manchester United, so we’ve got to take advantage because it may never come again,” Sir Alex said.

Following a goalless draw at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium a fortnight ago United, just days away from a sixth Premiership title in eight seasons, must be strong favourites — even if Real have been putting together a solid run in the Spanish League in recent weeks.

Ferguson says he wants his current side to dominate Europe for years to come — unlike United’s previous great sides.

“Take my 1994 team. I loved them and they were a team of warriors — the (Bryan) Robsons, the (Paul) Inces, the (Roy) Keanes and Eric Cantona — the best player I’ve ever managed.

“Look at our 1968 team too – marvellous players who were getting old. “They won it once, but they couldn’t keep it up. We’ve got to set our standards by the big European winners. Then we’ll find out where we rank as a great European club.”

United, fresh from crushing Sunderland 4-0 at the weekend, will again have an embarrassment of attacking riches to choose from as Norwegian `reserve’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored two opportunistic goals on Saturday while Teddy Sheringham, their other executioner against Bayern, is also champing at the bit. However, Ferguson is likely to keep faith with predatory pair Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.

There is a doubt over Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich with Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw ready to fill the breach.

Real hope they have an ace up their sleeve in Nicolas Anelka as, despite his poor form, he had a good record against the Red Devils while with Arsenal, scoring four goals in six English Premiership encounters against United.

Anelka, back in the fold after three weeks on the sidelines for missing training — for which he was fined $ 350,000 — helped his club triumph 1-0 at Real Zaragoza on Saturday by winning the decisive penalty converted by Raul.

Coach Vicente del Bosque is likely, however, to use Anelka as his joker in the pack and play Raul and Fernando Morientes in attack, despite Real’s return of just two goals in their past four outings.

Real’s Brazilian wingback Roberto Carlos, who should overcome a knee strain to take his place, insists the match is there for the taking with the Spaniards on a run of 11 matches without defeat.

“We can beat them if we play to our strengths,” he inisted on Monday.

The visitors will be without skipper and defensive linchpin Fernando Hierro, who is not ready to return from three weeks out with injury while Guti has an ankle injury and is unlikely to feature.

Bayern will meanwhile start with the advantage of the away goal when they host Porto in Wednesday’s quarter-final return, having drawn 1-1 in Portugal.

The Bavarians are reeling, however, from losing their local derby on Saturday against 1860 Munich, a result which allowed Bayer Leverkusen to go top of the Bundesliga.

To make matters worse, Bayern’s French international defender Bixente Lizarazu had to pull out of training on Monday with a groin strain and is rated a doubtful starter. Michael Tarnat immediately went on stand by.

Playmaker Stefan Effenberg is already out with a thigh strain and is expected to be absent for around a month.

“No one player can replace Stefan Effenberg,” bewailed Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who led Borussia Dortmund to the 1997 European Cup.

Responsibility for doing so is likely to be spread around Mehmet Scholl, Jens Jeremies, who scored an own-goal against 1860 Munich, and Thorsten Fink.

Porto coach Fernando Santos, hopes to welcome back defender Secretario, will rely heavily on Brazilian forward Mario Jardel, on target in a 2-0 weekend win at Santa Clara which sent the side to within two points of leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Porto, who beat Bayern in the 1997 European Cup final, have won the league title for the past five seasons and nine times in the past 12 years.

But Paulo Sergio’s goal for Bayern in the away-leg, equalising Jardel’s opener, has given the Bavarians a huge psychological advantage.

Jardel’s phenomenal record of 122 goals in 119 games for the Portuguese since signing four years ago from Brazilian side Gremio of Porto Alegre is the visitors’ only real hope of causing an upset.

“It’s no secret — Porto’s game is based around Jardel,” admits Santos.