What is behind Manchester United vs Inter Milan? Feb 24th 09

Did You Know?? Tonite's game between Manchester United vs Intermilan trivia

United are unbeaten in 19 Champions League games... will tonight make it 20?

Form Guide: The San Siro has been something of a ‘bogey ground’ for United, staging the Reds' last defeat in the competition in the disappointing 0-3 semi-final loss to AC Milan in May 2007. In fact, the European champions have a poor record in Italy overall, having won only three of 15 games there. However, Inter have failed to win on the last four occasions they've been visited by an English club. They lost their only competitive tie against United to date, 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of 10 years ago.

Did You Know? The match will be United’s 200th in the European Cup / Champions League since it began in 1955, a feat bettered only by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.

Ins and Outs: Sir Alex may be forced into fielding an unfamiliar back four with the suspended Nemanja Vidic joining Wes Brown (metatarsal) and Gary Neville (virus) on the sidelines. Jonny Evans (ankle) and John O’Shea (heel) face late fitness tests. Mourinho's defence could be without Argentina's Walter Samuel and Italy's Marco Materazzi.

Star Man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Sweden striker has scored 46 times in 76 games for Inter, but with only six goals in 20 Champions League appearances so far, he'll be determined to show why Mourinho rates him “one of the best players in the world”.

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DARREN FLETCHER: "I feel slightly embarrassed!"

Darren Fletcher has admitted he is embarrassed at the high praise afforded to him by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although the Red Devils were forced to wait until the last minutes of transfer deadline day before snaring Dimitar Berbatov, and it needed an unscheduled trip to Portugal to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to stay, Ferguson claimed the biggest relief he felt this summer was when Fletcher signed a new four-year contract.

The Scot's reasoning was, as a one-club man, foot soldiers like Fletcher are an essential component of United's quest for glory.

Yet the praise does not sit easily with the midfielder, who skippered Scotland for the first time against Norway earlier this month.

"I feel slightly embarrassed," said Fletcher.

"From what I have seen, signing Dimitar Berbatov looks like a good piece of business and Ronaldo is still here.

"But the manager made me feel wanted and said I was a big part of the team. It was the reassurance I needed, so I was happy to sign the contract."

Fletcher has been handsomely rewarded and, partly due to a spate of midfield injuries, the 24-year-old will make his 10th appearance of the season tonight if he faces West Ham at Old Trafford.

It is not a bad return for the end of October, especially as he was only involved on 24 occasions during the whole of last term.

Although he did have a couple of spells out because of injury, Fletcher's lack of action alerted rival clubs, leaving the player well aware he would be a man in demand if he did decide to leave.

However, having seen Nicky Butt and Phil Neville depart in similar circumstances, with mixed results, Fletcher opted against making a move.

"You have to think of the consequences before you leave here because there is no place like Manchester United," he said.

"A lot of people told me but I have also seen it first hand.

"The decision to leave would be massive. Thankfully, it has not come to that.

"I feel as though I am part of the team and am doing my bit to help achieve success. As long as that continues I am happy to be here. The day I feel I am not contributing as much as I can, it might be time to move on."

Fletcher is expected to keep his place tonight even though Michael Carrick has returned to training after an ankle injury.

With a home game against Hull looming on Saturday, Ferguson may opt to put Carrick on the bench, where Ryan Giggs may also find himself after starting Saturday's disappointing draw at Everton.

Ferguson must resolve the usual right-back conundrum, with Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Rafael da Silva all vying for selection, while the United boss must be tempted to recall Carlos Tevez given the number of chances his side frittered away at Goodison Park.

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