Godfather seeks even better plot

Manchester United's season starts tonight. Whenever the time comes to look back on the Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford and fans and commentators are assessing the true measure of his achievements, all would do well to remember two things that happened yesterday: first, United posted record turnover figures, up 13 per cent year on year; and, second, Ferguson agreed with a question that stated that United's season only really begins here this evening.

That Ferguson was the catalyst for United's relentless economic progress off the field should not be forgotten, but what is equally impressive - in fact it verges on the perverse - is that if United go out of the European Cup against Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage yet still win the Premiership by anything between 12 and 25 points, their season will be considered, if not a failure, then a disappointment.

That is the distance United have travelled under Ferguson. The trouble for them is that domestic omnipotence becomes boring after so long. Europe is the scale by which they will be judged and Ferguson conceded yesterday - again - that this United team will be considered "great" only if they win the European Cup twice. Ferguson is asked the question before every European game.

That United will have to overcome Bayern Munich, the side they defeated so unforgettably in Barcelona in 1999, to reach a semi-final more than likely against the holders Real Madrid, who play Galatasaray, adds intrigue to the occasion. If the translations have come across correctly, certain Bayern players are out for "Revenge", though it was evident yesterday that in Ferguson's mind last year's quarter-final defeat by Real is of more relevance.

Ferguson has repeatedly touched on that defeat, about how United and himself were outthought tactically by Raul, McManaman and co, and he mentioned it again at yesterday's press conference.

"I hope so," he replied to the query about United's season starting now. "When you get to the quarter-final you realise you have had to get through a lot of trees to get there. Once in the quarters you know you're in there. And it's important because we feel we should have done better last year. Maybe it was Real Madrid's year, maybe fate was that way."

Ferguson later said: "I think Real Madrid have got the best players," although that was at odds with the view from Munich where the Bayern manager, Ottmar Hitzfeld, had said before leaving: "Manchester United are the top team in European football."

Hitzfeld was hardly going to say United were rubbish, but after months of jogging along in the Premiership, United suddenly find themselves having to raise their game to a plane higher than that required to beat Middlesbrough.

"Everyone's fit," was Ferguson's good news on that front. "No injuries at all, a nice situation for us. But we have to reach our capabilities. When we reach those we're good enough, but I admit that on a few occasions this season we haven't reached our standards."

With Mikael Silvestre likely to come in for Denis Irwin and Jaap Stam to return - the main changes from the 2-0 loss at Anfield on Saturday - Ferguson's chief selection problem revolves around which pairing he will choose in attack. Teddy Sheringham, so vital for United in Europe this season and 35 yesterday, looks set to partner Andy Cole. Not that Ferguson expects a goal-fest. "We hope we can win without losing a goal. One-nil would do for me," he said.

Trying to focus on the present, Ferguson attempted not to respond to Barcelona '99 comparisons, but he did say he feels his team today, while essentially the same in personnel, has "more authority and more experience".

"They're getting better with their patience," he added. One of United's dilemmas is whether the acquisition of patience is at the price of their natural tempo. Ryan Giggs on European nights is anything but patient.

But if Ferguson was not keen on re-living the Barcelona experience, the Germans were not so reticent. "The memories haunt you," said right back Michael Tarnat, while Stefan Effenberg said of United's last-gasp victory: "I have never known a feeling like it in my career. Nothing, never, it was the worst. We were the better team and yet we lost in a manner that stripped us of our dignity. It was a very bad defeat."

Hitzfeld was almost as dramatic about Bayern's game last Saturday when they lost 3-2 at home to Werder Bremen. Bayern remain top of the league, but Hitzfeld said: "If we are still at the top of the Bundesliga then we are the craziest leaders in European football. If we play at Old Trafford the way we did against Bremen then we have no chance. We might just as well stay in Munich."

Hitzfeld has been hindered by injuries to Thorsten Fink and Jens Jeremies, though the latter may have recovered by tonight.

Ferguson was sceptical about the news emerging from Bayern's camp. He knows the Germans will be tough and tight. "You could toss a coin," he said about the outcome. Bayern club president Franz Beckenbauer was rather more colourful. Summing up the evening, Beckenbauer said: "This is one of the highlights of European football. It would be almost the perfect final. It's going to be 50/50 and I just hope that this time the godfather of football is looking toward Bayern." The godfather of Old Trafford won't be.