No United fear for Basel

Basel manager Thorsten Fink says the Swiss champions do not fear Manchester United ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.

Basel take on last season’s beaten finalists at Old Trafford in the second match of the group stage, having won their opening game against Romanian outfit Otelul Galati.

Fink’s side are unbeaten in their last six matches, and the coach said they firmly expect to challenge for at least a point.

“We haven’t just come here to sit and watch, we’ve come here to play,” Fink said.

“Obviously it’s going to be a chance tomorrow – we’re looking to get something out of the game. But to do that we’ll have to be tight at the back.”

“We know Manchester United clearly have strengths up front and they are clearly favourites to win the competition along with Barcelona.”

“But we have experience as well as young players – what we haven’t got is fear.”

Fink was a member of the Bayern Munich side which was famously beaten by United in the 1999 Champions League final.

The English giants scored two goals in stoppage time to steal the title from Bayern, but Fink said it would be a different experience for him this time.

“It is not a question of revenge. Now I’m here as a coach I’m glad to be here. It’s not an everyday experience,” he said.

“Going back to that day it was a great memory even though we lost. You gain strength from defeat.”

“Everything that hurts helps you improve. Also we went on to win the Champions League (two years later), but certainly at the time although the team lost that brought us together.”

“We were close to winning in 1999, we can be proud of our performance. But if you are not careful against a team like Manchester United you end up paying.”