Ferguson bemoans 'Group of Jetlag'

Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United face a stern test in this season’s Champions League after a tough-looking draw in the group stage.

United were drawn in Group B – not so much the 'Group of Death' as the 'Group of Jetlag' – with the prospect of long-distance trips to Besiktas in Turkey and CSKA Moscow as well as strong opponents in German champions Wolfsburg.

Last season’s beaten finalists look to have the most daunting draw of all the British clubs, who all avoided the European heavyweights of Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Milan sides.

Chelsea are in Group D with Porto, Atletico Madrid and Apoel Nicosia, Liverpool face Lyon, Fiorentina and Debreceni in Group E while Arsenal have perhaps the easiest test with AZ Alkmaar, Olympiacos and Standard Liege in Group H.

Rangers were drawn against Sevilla, Stuttgart and Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni – coached by Dan Petrescu – in Group G.

Ferguson is not a fan of long away trips in Europe, and he told the club’s official website: “These are difficult ties especially the trips to Russia and Turkey.

“CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult.

“We also know the quality that we’re up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season.”

Ferguson’s mood will not have been lightened by the knowledge that United face two major Premier League clashes after their long trips – they are at home to Manchester City after travelling to Turkey and away at Liverpool four days after their Moscow journey.

Avoiding such tiring trips was top of Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez’s wishlist, and he was grateful that at least was granted.

“The important thing as always is that the travelling isn’t too bad, we don’t have too far to go for any of the games,” said the Liverpool manager.

“Lyon might not have won the league last season but before that they won it many years in a row, so we know they have lots of good players who can play good football,” he told the club’s official website.

“Fiorentina are an historic club and if Debreceni have won their league then we know it means it’s because they’re a good side.”

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis insisted the Gunners would not be complacent but that – having been written off by many people this summer – they were targeting the final in Madrid in May.

Gazidis said: “A lot of people might say we are the favourites to win this group but we have not played any of these teams before and they are all champions of their respective leagues.

“Our ambition is to become the first London club to win the Champions League. We have believed in ourselves through this close season even though we have been written off and a lot of pressure has been placed on us.

“One of things we have this year is real focus game-to-game and I think if we can maintain that we can achieve great things.”

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was happy to have avoided the continental big guns.

He said: “As a group there’s not much travel and generally we have to be happy with the draw.

“There will plenty of glamour ties once you get through this group, but we have to get through this stage first.

“I’m sure Carlo Ancelotti will be happy – he’s had a great start to the season, he’s very happy with squad and we have great strength in depth so winning that final still beckons.”

In the other groups, holders Barcelona take on Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, Dynamo Kiev and Russian champions Rubin Kazan in Group F.

Bayern Munich will play Juventus, Bordeaux and Maccabi Haifa in Group A while AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille and FC Zurich face off in Group C.