Gill: No fears over draw

Trevor Baxter

August 31, 2007

NIGHT OF TERROR: Flashback to April in Rome

UNITED chief executive David Gill insists he has no fears after the Reds and Roma were drawn together again in the Champions League.

Last season's quarter-final legs between the pair were marred by violence, resulting in multiple arrests and casualties in both Rome and Manchester.

But Gill is confident that lessons have been learned from those bloody clashes.

"That will be the talking point after last season," admits Sir Alex Ferguson after the Reds were pitched against the Italians, Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kiev in a formidable Group F.

United are expected to hold talks with Greater Manchester Police to ensure there are no repeats of the violence both in the home and away legs.

"What we need to do is do our homework and work very closely with Roma," said Gill.

"I'm sure the lessons have been learned by Roma and the authorities from last year.

"We believe our fans acted very properly and were found to be broadly blameless.

"I think we need to all to work together to ensure the game is remembered for what happens on the field as opposed to off it.

"We will discuss it with Roma and UEFA to make sure it is remembered for what happens on the field and make sure everyone travels in safety."

Confident

He added: "We have got to be confident, we are confident against every team we play.

"We have a great squad and are looking forward to the challenge of the Champions League immensely."

United fans caught up in the frightening scenes at the Olympic Stadium may not share Gill's optimism.

They condemned Italian policing inside the ground while many supporters were also attacked by the local Ultras outside. A total of 20 supporters, including 18 from United, needed hospital treatment after the game.

The Italians claimed they had been insulted by a pre-match warning from United officials about potential trouble from the Roma hard core fans.

There were 21 arrests outside Old Trafford in the return leg, including 14 United supporters.

As a result of the disturbances European's governing body UEFA fined Roma £31,000 and United £14,500.

UEFA director of communications William Gaillard said after the trouble in Rome: "We are subject to the law so we cannot tell the Italians and other countries where police are in charge of public order in stadia not to enter stadia. We are just a football authority not a law and order authority."

United were also fined £6,000 for lesser crowd problems against Lille in Lens last season. However, many English fans believe UEFA have been overly lenient with the Italians.

A spokesman for supporters' group IMUSA said they would be working with the authorities to ensure there is no repeat of the violence in Rome last season.

A spokesman said: "IMUSA is keen to play its part in making sure that the attacks on Manchester United fans made by the Rome police last spring are not repeated again this season.

"To this end IMUSA will we working closely with the club, UEFA, the FA and the Football Supporters' Federation to urgently examine the ways in which this can be avoided.

What do you think of the group? Have your say.

United fixtures:

Sep 19: Sporting Lisbon v Man Utd.

Oct 2: Man Utd v Roma.

Oct 23: Dynamo Kiev v Man Utd.

Nov 7: Man Utd v Dynamo Kiev.

Nov 27: Man Utd v Sporting Lisbon. Dec 12: Roma v Man Utd.

Full Champions League Group Stage draw

Group A
Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas

Group B
Chelsea, Valencia, Schalke, Rosenborg

Group C
Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Olympiacos

Group D
AC Milan, Benfica, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E
Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Rangers

Group F
Manchester United, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev

Group G
Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbache

Group H
Arsenal, Sevilla/AEK Athens, Steaua Bucharest, Slavia Prague

| Submit Comments | Comments (22) |

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bobbydazzler (31/08/2007 at 09:04)

interesting draw if we approach this in the right manner ie play to our strengths we will qualify no problem. on the other hand if we adopt our normal euro attitude we will be in for a bumpy ride.

Happyblue, DEEP INSIDE THE KREMLIN SSHH (31/08/2007 at 09:12)

ROMA SHOULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION,IF THAT BEHAVIOUR WAS ALLOWED IN ENGLAND,THE ENGLISH TEAM WOULD HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT DAM QUICK,WE CAN ALL BE ASSURED OF THAT.

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (31/08/2007 at 09:16)

Of the four English clubs, we have the toughest draw. We have to make sure of our home games to go through.

Birdy, Ireland (31/08/2007 at 09:23)

Its nota bad draw, but the away games will be tricky. Anyone know what sort of weather we're gonna be looking at for the trip to Ukraine?

Away to Sporting and Roma will be difficult games too. How we approach them though is crucial. I'd share Bobbys concern on that note. We certainly now have the players to go and try to impose ourselves so hopefully this will be the season that our European away record picks up. None of the away gmaes will be easy but all should be winable, particularly for a team with ambitions of winning the thiing outright

GORB, MANCHESTER (31/08/2007 at 10:42)

OF THE 4 ENGLISH CLUBS, UNITED,AS USUAL,HAVE THE EASIEST DRAW.

Palmer, London (yeah, yeah, heard it all before) (31/08/2007 at 10:44)

I was in Roma last season, by the time I got to the UK, and saw a bobby, I wanted to hug him, a very welcome site. 'Ya don't know what ya doing! Ya don't know what ya doing!' was the most sung song from Utd fans, - to the Cabinieri!

None the less, Roma must be shaking in their footy boots after that 7-1 drubbing at back at OT, I can't wait!

Ant, Manchester (31/08/2007 at 10:51)

GORB, Manchester; I presume you must be a citeh fan, you know nothing about European football (or football for that matter).

red john (31/08/2007 at 10:55)

having worked at old trafford for over 20 years ican honestly say the roma fans were amongst the worst behaved i have ever witnessed. Frankly i wont be working that night they dont pay me enough to put up with that level of violence 2 cracked ribs curtesey of the roma fans; was my reward for carrying one of there female suppoerters to the first aid station!! Gill might not be worried but there isnt a great deal of trouble in the directors boxes is there??

Michio, County Louth (31/08/2007 at 10:58)

Roma's always had a bit of history. I remember the games with Dundee Utd in the semis of the old European Cup back in the eighties. There was trouble on as well as off the pitch back then. Seems the same most years, between the police and the ultras you can expect no quarter given. Afterwards we can expect Uefa to make it's usual noises about investigating what really happened before fining both clubs and telling the world it was a one-off caused primarily by drunken Manchester Utd fans. Lessons are never learned, they just get repeated endlessly.

The Trawler, Stockport (31/08/2007 at 11:06)

Gorb....Not sure what you're on about there, son. I'd say Arsenal's group was a lot more straightforward than ours. Away trips to the Ukraine are never that easy, and Roma won't be the pushover they were last time. I suppose you're a blue so you wouldn't know much about European football.

Jesse Cole (31/08/2007 at 11:30)

Tough group, but I can see us leaving it with at least 12 points, maybe more. We just have to impose ourselves on the european stage. SAF has to get over his fear of concedeing goals and play our attacking 4-4-2 style away from home.

The Trawler, Stockport (31/08/2007 at 11:46)

I think Hargreaves is the key to how well we do this season. We all know what Scholes can do, but hopefully having Hargreaves in there doing the dirty work will give Carrick the confidence to get forward and work some magic, a la Roma at OT. All we need then is Neville back on the right.

David Kelly (31/08/2007 at 11:47)

United have to impose themselves on Europe. We must take on the giants like Real, Barca on an equal footing and get over the inferiority complex.
Lets face it European sides would rather play us than Chelsea or Liverpool and maybe even Arsenal.

Essex Prawn, Billerciay (31/08/2007 at 11:57)

On a purely football front we should and I sencerely hope we do progress.
Personally I have the swines, i was stood amongst the 'middle of the road' roma fans who were making slitting of the throat gestures and cheering their police as they batton charged yet again and again. Some of me wants to give them some payback and not turn the other cheek yet again.

george (31/08/2007 at 12:05)

It looks like a stubborn set of opponents.This is where you would hope the extra quality from the new additions will count.A win in Lisbon would be a good start.

Steve in Brussels (31/08/2007 at 12:51)

A tricky draw indeed. Roma after revenge so extra motivated, Lisbon full of talent that we haven't bought yet and Kiev who rarely seem to lose a Ch L game at home. Hopefully the Kiev game is earlier on before it gets too cold and stewards are clearing the ground of polar bears before KO! It looks the toughest of the draws for the English sides to me, just edging the Dippers.

Pepe (31/08/2007 at 16:01)

We got the second easiest group after Arsenal. Chelsea group is the worst with Valencia and Schalke. Don't be afraid of Rome ...remember they beat us after Paul Scholes was sent off.

bobbyc, manchester (31/08/2007 at 17:02)

GORB you are obviously a Banana Boy .As usual when it comes to European Football ,city are nowhere to be seen .Stick to the Carling Cup thats more your level!

A Mancunian, Manchester (31/08/2007 at 17:30)

I really wonder why United fans are so willing to put their own lives at risk just to watch football. Regardless of what UEFA say, you know it will be dangerous out there in Roma. For heaven's sake, DON'T GO.

50 years a Red, Stockport (31/08/2007 at 18:06)

As David Gill will be cocooned in the Roma directors box for the away game I am not surprised he claims to have no fear re the draw.

David Kelly (31/08/2007 at 18:21)

The Roman police are savages and the game should be avoided

Tegre (03/09/2007 at 02:17)

Any game in Europe is tough for us, we are not feared by any. SAF has built a team for the EPL, not Europe! No steel on the team....ok Hargraves adds a little but we are fooling ourselves if we think that's enough. I love United but I will be greatly surprised if we make it to the semi's this year. We are short on quality in some positions...LB,RB,CM & Strikers. As much as I hate to admit it Rafa's done a helliva job building a team to conquer Europe.....they were very lucky against AC, outplayed for 80 min. but they look for real this time. That really sucks!!!

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