• Manchester United v FC Basel, Champions League

United eye first win in quest to win Champions League

Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen could be given the nod in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Fergie reassures benched Berbatov
  
• News: Rooney and Hernandez ruled out of Basel clash
  
• News: Fergie fears 'weeks' out for Rooney
  

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United cannot look back at the last four years as a golden period for the club in the Champions League - because they were beaten by Barcelona in two of the three finals they reached.

The record books may show the current spell to be United's most successful ever in Europe, but Ferguson insists they need to take that final step and win the Champions League trophy outright again in order to make such a claim.

United will resume their European campaign at home to Basel on Tuesday night - when they will be without leading strikers Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez due to injury - with Ferguson insisting his players need to strive for even better.

Ferguson said: "The Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships, it's a fantastic tournament. But it's not a golden period for us because we have lost two finals, so I don't think it can be called a golden period.

"We have been consistent in the Champions League, our form away from home has been outstanding and we hope we can do better this year and win it, that's the aim of this club all the time.''

Ferguson confirmed that Rooney would miss the match with a hamstring injury and said that it was difficult to know when the England striker would be back in action. "He's not playing. It's difficult to assess with hamstrings but we hope we have him back quickly. He did a bit of jogging but that's all,'' said the United boss.

Ferguson also said that Hernandez's dead leg would keep him out against Basel but that the Mexican should be back for when Norwich visit on Saturday. Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov are likely to lead the attack against the Swiss club, though the fit-again Danny Welbeck could also feature - with Rio Ferdinand partnering Phil Jones in central defence.

Basel won their opening fixture in Group C 2-1 against Romanian side Otelul Galati. But they have never won in seven visits in all competitions and since drawing against both United and Liverpool on their Champions League debut in 2002 they have lost to Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Fulham.

"Manchester United have strengths offensively and I count them as one of the sides to win the competition,'' said coach Thorsten Fink. "We have experience and young players but what we don't have is fear.

"We are a Champions League team, we know what we can do, we have confidence. We haven't come here to sit and watch, we have come here to play. We are looking to get something out of the game but we have to be tight at the back.''

Xherdan Shaqiri completes a two-game ban tomorrow while fellow midfielder Benjamin Huggel is also suspended after his red card against Otelul.

Key battle: With Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling all picking up niggling injuries, Rio Ferdinand is likely to start alongside teenager Phil Jones at the back. Swiss Super League top scorer Alexander Frei is already off the mark in the competition, netting in Basel's win over Otelul Galati a fortnight ago, and Ferguson will be hoping Jones' inexperience doesn't prove costly against the former Switzerland international.

Prediction: 3-1

Odds: Dimitar Berbatov to score first in a 3-1 United victory is an attractive 35/1 with bet365. (All odds accurate at time of writing)

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.