Ruud optimistic about United progess

Ruud van Nistelrooy is convinced Manchester United will come through their make-or-break Champions League tussle with Benfica – providing they hit top form.

After collecting just two points from their last three European outings, United travel to Lisbon knowing victory is essential if they are to guarantee their place in the knock-out phase.

A draw would be enough if Villarreal are able to beat Lille on home soil in the final game but Sir Alex Ferguson has already admitted the strategy of playing for a point is too risky to contemplate.

However, after building on their victory over Chelsea by beating Charlton and West Ham away from Old Trafford, Van Nistelrooy feels is confident the Red Devils have what it takes to win in the Stadium of Light as well.

“The way we have played in the last few games has given us something to build on,” he said.

“We also have players coming back from injury, so the squad is strengthening, so if we can play to our best, we have the confidence to get the result we need over there.”

In the aftermath of his death, the memories of George Best have been everywhere and it is somehow appropriate United’s first European trip since the passing of probably their greatest player should be to the city where many believe he produced his finest performance.

The Best-inspired 5-1 triumph over Benfica in 1966 ranks among the most awesome wins in Red Devils history and how dearly Sir Alex Ferguson would love the three goals United produced in the first 15 minutes of that never-to-be-forgotten night to prevent a night of anxious fingernail biting.

Not that such a scenario appears likely in what has cruelly been dubbed ’The Group of Dearth’.

United have been responsible for just two of the sum total of eight goals so far scored in Group E, a staggering 13 fewer than the previous lowest ever recorded for a single group in the competition’s history.

Amazingly, Benfica are bottom of the table despite netting three times while Lille currently occupy a qualification berth even though their only goal in five outings so far came when Milenko Acimovic fired home a first-half winner against United in October.

As the second highest scorer in the competition’s history, Van Nistelrooy’s personal tally of one is unusual in itself, and the Dutchman admits the lack of firepower has left United staring at a sudden death situation far earlier than they expected.

“This is not a typical Champions League group,” he said.

“Only eight goals have been scored so far and there has never been a situation like that before.

“Now it all comes down to Wednesday as a cup game, but early in the season.”

At least Ferguson will have a virtually full strength squad to call on, with the notable exception of Gabriel Heinze, who is out for the season after suffering knee ligament damage in the first Champions League outing in Villarreal.

And the United camp know after all the early season misery, if the club can secure their position in the knock-out phase and keep winning in the Premiership, the first half of the campaign will actually have been quite a success.

“If we can get the results, we will have done quite well,” he said.

“But saying it is easier than doing it. First of all, we have to produce the performances on the pitch. Then we can talk.”