Fergie faces the Real threat

ALEX FERGUSON is looking forward to the Champions League tie he asked for after his Manchester United side were paired with mighty Real Madrid in the last eight.

As he reflected earlier in the week on the possibilities of the quarter-final draw, Ferguson said he would be quite happy with a two-legged encounter with the holders and nine-times winners.

If that was not enough, United also learned that if they emerge victorious, they will then face either Juventus or Barcelona in a mouth-watering semi-final, ensuring that, should they make the May 28 final at Old Trafford, they will have come home the hard way.