Rooney focused on Basel, says Fergie
Rooney will learn tomorrow whether his appeal against the suspension handed down for his dismissal in England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October has been successful, with the Football Association hopeful the punishment will be reduced.
The hearing is an unwanted distraction for Ferguson, coming as it does just a day after his side face a crucial Champions League clash with Basle.
But with United still requiring a point to reach the last 16, and both Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez ruled out by injury, Ferguson expects Rooney to focus on club matters tonight.
“I don’t think that comes into it at all,” said Ferguson when asked if the hearing was likely to affect Rooney’s focus.
Ferguson will rely on United’s good European away form as his side look to avoid a repeat of what befell them in their first encounter with Basle in September, when they threw away a two-goal lead and needed a last-gasp Ashley Young leveller to earn a 3-3 draw.
“There was obvious complacency in the game when it went 2-0,” said Ferguson. “We showed a lack of discipline in the second half.
“Fortunately we managed to waken up late in the game to get a result which has maybe rescued us in this section.”
In confirming Hernandez will be out of action for “a maximum of five weeks, a minimum of three” with the ankle injury he sustained at Aston Villa on Saturday, Ferguson gave little away about his starting line-up.
However, he retains confidence in his players, saying: “People say we are not doing well but we are second in the league and we are at a stage where we could be qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League.
“It is another big game, but we have a strong squad and that squad will see us through without question,” he boldly added.
Meanwhile, FC Basle skipper Marco Streller has accused tonight’s opponents of not taking the Swiss champions seriously at Old Trafford in September.
Streller believes the astonishing about-turn in September was made possible by Sir Alex Ferguson’s men taking it easy.
“At 2-0, it seemed to me they didn’t take us seriously,” he said.
“But after that, I know they will not underestimate us again. They will take us seriously tonight because now they know we are a good team. We have proved it already.”
Ferguson would be correct to adopt a cautious approach, even though his side will start as huge favourites to collect the point they need.
Streller is adamant that the challenge facing his side is a significant one but he believes all the pressure will be on the visitors.
“Of course the pressure is bigger for them,” he said.
“In 99% of the games they play, Manchester United are the favourites.
“They probably have 30 internationals in their squad and although Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov are not here, they still have Danny Welbeck to come in.
“I am sure they can cope with the pressure but maybe there is one or two percent in the back of our minds that can make it an advantage for us.”
Vogel also feels there may be even more importance on this game because United’s rivals Manchester City have taken a healthy five-point lead in the Premier League.
“At the moment Manchester City are really in form in the Premier League, but maybe not so much in the Champions League,” he said.
“With Manchester United it seems to be the other way round. But they are still one of the strongest teams in the world.
“They reached the final last year and in 2008 they won the competition without losing a match, so we have to respect them.”
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