Fergie facing Rangers again

MANCHESTER UNITED and Rangers were drawn together in Group C of the Champions League at yesterday’s draw in Monaco.

That means a return to Glasgow for Red Devils boss and Govan native Alex Ferguson, while Gers boss Walter Smith will be making a return to Old Trafford, having briefly worked as Ferguson’s assistant prior to his stint in charge of Scotland.

Spanish side Valencia and Turkey’s Bursaspor make up the group.

United’s chief executive David Gill is relishing the prospect of doing battle with Rangers.

“There is the Rangers connection, we played them back in 2003/04 and Alex (Ferguson) and Walter Smith go back a long way,’’ Gill said.

“It will be a great atmosphere at Old Trafford and I remember when we played up there in 2003 and Phil Neville scored a fairly rare goal. It will be a great occasion, I’ve spoken to Sir Alex and he’s looking forward to it.”

On the Red Devils’ other opponents, he added: “Valencia had a good season last season. We last played them in 2000, we’ve had five games against them and going out to Spain is always nice.

“You can talk yourself into(Bursaspor) seeming a long trip. That’s the beauty of the competition, there are new teams. We’re looking forward to progressing to the knockout stages.”

Chelsea, among the top seeds, were matched with France’s Marseille, Russia’s Spartak Moscow and Slovakia’s MSK Zilina in Group F.

Chelsea director and club secretary David Barnard said: “We’ve got to be fairly happy with that.”

Barnard – who said Chelsea have no current signings in the offing – also hopes the fact the final is to be held at Wembley will be a spur.

“Since Wembley opened we’ve been there eight times now,” he said. “You like to play a final on foreign soil, obviously for our supporters and the occasion, but you never know, Wembley is a lucky omen for us and may well be this year.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, appeared to have the most straightforward assignment after drawing Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga of Portugal and Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade in Group H. Chief executive Ivan Gazidis believes there will be a London subplot to this year’s Champions League as all three capital clubs look to book their place at Wembley for the decider.

With the showpiece due to be held at Wembley for the first time since its redevelopment, Gazidis is sure there will be a big emphasis from his side as well as Tottenham and Chelsea on ensuring at least one local finalist.

“There is a real incentive for all English clubs, especially the London clubs,” he said.

“It’s would be fantastic to play in the final in London and I know Spurs and Chelsea will feel the same way. There will probably be a mini competition within a competition there.”

Tottenham, who secured a first Champions League group campaign with a 4-0 second-leg victory over Young Boys on Wednesday night, got a tough draw in Group A.

They will meet reigning champions Inter Milan, coached by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, Germany’s Werder Bremen and Steve McClaren’s one-time employers, Dutch side FC Twente.

But Spurs club secretary Darren Eales believes those sides may not be relishing being drawn against them.

“They say there are no easy games and it’s certainly true of the group we’ve got,” Eales said.

“But in the game against Young Boys we had a wonderful atmosphere. Night games in Europe at White Hart Lane... we could be matches for anyone. We could be one of the teams people were fearful to draw.

“We’re certainly not looking too far ahead, we’re just looking to give a good account of ourselves and we’re looking at getting into the knockout stage first, that’s our first aim.”

The British contingent will have been glad to avoid Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, who were in the second pot for the draw.

They were instead drawn in an exciting-looking Group G alongside AC Milan, Ajax and Auxerre.

Lyon are top seeds in Group B where they will meet Benfica, Schalke and Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Barcelona have a chance to overturn last year’s shock home defeat against Russia’s Rubin Kazan in Group D. Panathinaikos and FC Copenhagen make up that four.

Group E is made up of Bayern Munich, Roma, FC Basel and CFR Cluj.