Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is determined not to let the myriad of injuries within his squad to hamper the team's chances in winning the treble as they take on European giants AC Milan at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The Red Devils have suddenly turned from favorites to beat Milan in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final to underdogs who are struggling to cope with injuries. "It's not a time for feeling sorry for ourselves. It's time to show what we are made of," Ferguson said. "It's been well documented in the history of our football club that we do it the hard way and we have to get the players' energy energies right for Tuesday, because it is a massive game for them and it's a game they should enjoy. Ferguson's main concern is his depleted backline, which will be missing captain Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre and Craig Cathcart while French fullback Patrice Evra remains doubtful for the game. Manchester United will also be without midfielders Ji-Sung Park, Kieran Richardson and striker Louis Saha. "Obviously you do miss players like Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Louis Saha in big matches but the spirit of the team is good," said the Scottish tactician. But the talented Sir Ferguson will be banking on his team's ability to score, which was proven when United crushed AS Roma 7-1 in the second-leg of the quarter-finals at Old Trafford a fortnight ago. "Important players are playing tomorrow and it's good to have them. The one problem I have is maybe that we will have an inadequate bench but I'm happy with the squad I'm playing."
Milan are banking on Kaka and experience Ferguson's not-so-secret weapons will be PFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs and boy wonder Wayne Rooney up front. Yet, United's strike force does not seem to worry the more seasoned Italian side. “Our motivation is to play for our number one objective of the season: the Champions League. Milan have always been at the forefront in Italy and Europe over the last 20 years,” said Milan captain Paolo Maldini. Rossoneri boss Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that his side will not be counting on United's injuries. “The English side are missing important players, however, we can't think about this. Our duty is to impose our game to manage to play a great game,” he said. Ancelotti also has his own injury worries of his own as Brazilian goalkeeper Dida is nursing a shoulder injury and could be replaced by Australian Zeljko Kalac. Probable line-ups Manchester United: Edwin Van Der Sar, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney, Alan Smith. AC Milan: Dida (Zeljko Kalac), Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Marek JankulovskI, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka, Alberto Gilardino (Filippo Inzaghi).
