Ramos fears ‘unstoppable’ Berbatov

CSKA MOSCOW boss Juande Ramos has warned his players Man United striker Dimitar Berbatov is “unstoppable” at his best.

Ramos knows the Bulgaria star well from his year in charge at Tottenham, which ended 12 months ago on Sunday. With Wayne Rooney injured, Berbatov could be leading the United line as they take on Ramos’ current side in a Champions League clash in the Russian capital this evening.

“The most dangerous player is Berbatov,” Ramos said. “I worked with him at Tottenham, he is a great player.

“I can’t say how he has adapted to United but when he is in good form he is absolutely unstoppable.”

CSKA go into the Group B encounter at the Luzhniki Stadium with three points from their two games, three behind unbeaten United.

English champions United are missing a handful of key players, with Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Park Ji-Sung joining Rooney on the sidelines, and face a Premier League trip to rivals Liverpool at the weekend.

However, Ramos is still convinced Alex Ferguson will have his sights set firmly on victory. The Spaniard said: “Manchester United will play Liverpool on Sunday but I am sure the match with CSKA Moscow is very important for Alex Ferguson’s team.

“I think all the Manchester United players will do their best. Some key players for United will not play but top clubs have not only 11 players, but much more.

“Sir Alex will find adequate reserve players, it is a great squad.”

Ramos took charge at CSKA when he succeeded Brazilian legend Zico last month. He believes the club has great potential and is pleased to see them sharing the same stage as teams such as three-times European champions United.

He said: “Sir Alex will make changes but CSKA will change too – both teams have big squads.

“It is a very important match because we want to show CSKA Moscow is a top club too. We will think only about the win.” United top the group with a maximum six points after victories over Besiktas and Wolfsburg. But despite the team’s healthy position – and their injury concerns and the impending trip to Liverpool – Ferguson insists he will not be settling for a draw. He said: “I am not a great believer in ‘can afford not to win’. We will try to win and I think that is the incentive for us.”

Left-back Evra should be fit for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool and Ferguson is also hopeful Rooney, Giggs and Fletcher will return.

Ferguson said: “Evra just had a little problem and we decided to leave him because we are quite well covered.

“I am hoping by Sunday Rooney, Fletcher and Giggs will be fit.”

Rooney has been troubled by a calf injury since England’s trip to Ukraine 11 days ago while Fletcher was also hurt on international duty.

Giggs and Evra suffered minor knocks in the draw against Bolton on Saturday.

Park has a knee injury that is likely to sideline him for two weeks.

Ferguson, meanwhile, brought last night’s press conference to an abrupt halt when he refused to answer a question on the Alan Wiley situation.

The Manchester United manager last night faced the media for the first time since being charged with improper conduct by the FA for allegedly questioning Wiley’s fitness.

Ferguson reacted angrily when he was asked to comment on the charge.

“Silly question gets no answer,” the Scot said. “I’m not answering it.

“We’re at a press conference for a game tomorrow. We’re here to talk about that.”

At that point Ferguson decided to end the press conference, which had already run for 22 minutes, and left the room.

Ferguson caused a media storm with his remarks about Wiley when he accused the referee of being unfit after his side’s 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw against Sunderland on October 3.