UNITED have now got the tactics to overcome Roma's total football and the temperament to bid for the Champions League trophy in Moscow, reckons Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Reds imperiously swept the Romans aside last April at Old Trafford 7-1 to advance to the semi-finals.

But the week before, they came a cropper in Italy, losing 2-1 when coach Luciano Spalletti's game plan threw the Reds into confusion.

During this campaign, United won again at Old Trafford and achieved a draw in Rome at the group stage.

Tonight it is the fifth head-to-head in 12 months, and another quarter-final showdown.

And Ferguson is confident his side can cope with Roma's unique strikerless 4-6-0 formation.

"Roma are a job to deal with tactically because they have a different way of playing," said Sir Alex. "But we have faced them four times now so it won't be as big a problem as it was in the first 20 minutes of the first match in Italy last year.

"When you play a team as much as we have played Roma, I wonder who learns the most, the team who has been successful or the team who has lost.

"The only advantage we have is that we have been here twice before. The first time we came here we found it very, very difficult in the first 20 minutes. They press the game very quickly and it took us a long time to adjust to that.

"They are very dynamic, they press forward, and if you lose the ball they counter-attack very strongly.

Difficulties

"Having played them now so many times we hope we have overcome those difficulties.

"But they have improved, there is no question about that. They are second in the Italian League, four points behind Inter Milan and have a very good chance of winning it.

Should United progress they will then be pitched into a semi with either Barcelona or Schalke. But the Stadio Olimpico, Nou Camp or the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the final holds no worries for Fergie's fearless outfit.

"It is difficult winning the Champions League," the Reds boss added.

"The fact we have only won the European Cup once in my time tells you how difficult it is.

"In that respect it is going to be hard but we have the players who can make us successful, they are confident they can express themselves, they enjoy playing. They are not afraid of challenges and there is enough youth in the team to make them ambitious.

"The one thing these young lads of ours have is the quality to play on the big occasion. They are very confident.

"It gives you hope that they can handle big occasions. You want to see them express themselves and be fearless. I am not even slightly worried about their temperament."

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