United set for revenge mission

Manchester United will be motivated by revenge when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side face Porto in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.

After storming back to the top of the Premier League with a dramatic, late 3-2 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, United turn their attention to Europe and the chance to resolve some unfinished business.

Porto dumped United out of the Champions League in 2004 when the Portuguese club, then managed by Jose Mourinho, followed a 2-1 home win with a 1-1 draw in the return.

Mourinho’s famous jig of delight down the touchline when Porto scored their decisive late goal at Old Trafford remains one of the Champions League’s most enduring images.

It is still a source of angst among United fans, so it was no surprise they took extra pleasure when Ferguson’s team knocked out Mourinho’s current side Inter Milan in the last 16 this season.

Now United can complete the second half of their revenge mission by eliminating Porto.

United defender John O’Shea admits the bitter memories of that 2004 defeat will provide the reigning champions with all the incentive they need to blow away Jesualdo Ferreira’s team at Old Trafford.

“That was a tough one to take. Paul Scholes had a goal disallowed that was onside and the sight of Mourinho dancing down the touchline was not a happy one for many people,” O’Shea said.

“It is one of those things that we want to put to bed.”

United, unbeaten on home soil in 19 European games, will be bolstered by the return of Wayne Rooney, Scholes and Nemanja Vidic after the trio missed the Villa match through suspension.

A substantial victory on Tuesday would put United in pole position going into the second leg at the Dragao Stadium next week, but Porto finished top of their group before knocking out Atletico Madrid on away goals and Ferguson is warning against complancency.

“We’ve done the work on Porto. I’ve watched DVDs of their last six matches. Also they beat Arsenal 2-0 this season and played very well that day,” Ferguson said.

“Lisandro Lopez is a finisher, a real striker. I’m very mindful of the last time we met. It will be a difficult tie.”

Porto’s hopes of a positive result will rest on the finishing of Lisandro and the cultured promptings of his Argentinian colleague Lucho Gonzalez, back after missing Saturday’s 3-1 win over Guimaraes through suspension.

The duo have scored six goals between them in Europe this season and, together with powerful Brazilian forward Hulk, they could prove troublesome for a United defence that has looked fragile in recent weeks.

After a record-breaking run of cleansheets earlier in the season, United have conceded eight goals in their last three games and were exposed again by Villa on Sunday.

With that in mind, the groin injury that kept Rio Ferdinand out against Villa, and could sideline the England defender again on Tuesday, couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Despite their defensive worries, United, who would face either Arsenal or Villarreal in the semi-finals, are firm favourites to reach the final in Rome.

But Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea insists they can’t afford to look further ahead than Porto.

“The minute the draw was made, friends started to text me saying they couldn’t believe we had got the easy half,” he said.

“But once you start thinking like that, you take your eye off the ball and we cannot allow that to happen to us.

“We have to maintain focus and concentrate. I am sure Porto are not looking forward to coming to Old Trafford because of our record but they will still think they can win.”