M.E.N. Exclusive

MANCHESTER United have completed their European education claims Gary Neville, the Champions' League's most experienced campaigner.

Now the Reds must draw on their experiences to win back the Euro crown they won in 1999.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side travelled to Greece today (Tuesday) on the brink of qualifying for the second phase. It is 12 months and 15 matches since they last lost in the competition proper.

And despite beating the Greek champions 4-0 at Old Trafford three weeks ago, Neville believes United will need all their Euro knowledge in Athens tomorrow. "I don't think there are any more experiences, good or bad, for us to have in the Champions' League," said the right back who'll play his 71st Champions' League match in the Apollon Rizoupolis stadium.

"We have been through it all. There isn't a situation we haven't enjoyed or endured. Now we have to learn from it all and use it. We have learned an awful lot over the years and you must draw on that.

Experienced

"In the last year, we have become an experienced European side. We have become difficult to beat and have defended well. We have been focused and concentrated.

"We relish all the different experiences. We love going to away matches and having to cope with the demands they throw up.

"Tomorrow night in Athens, for instance, is going to be a difficult one. We didn't see the true side of the Greeks at Old Trafford. We were fantastic in the first half at home and blew them away.

"But they'll be a lot different this time on their own ground rather than the Olympic Stadium in Athens. We won 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium 12 months ago and coped with that atmosphere.

"This will be different again in a ground that holds 15,000. It will be tight and hostile and that will help them. We are in for a tough time.

"But it is not new to us anymore. We've been in compact European stadiums before where the crowd are breathing down your neck.

" We know what it is about and that's where learning from your experiences comes in. Nothing should come as a surprise to us.

"We know, for instance, that we cannot afford a slow start in Athens. If opponents get on top of you in that first half hour of away trips, and if they then go a goal up, it is nigh on impossible to beat them from that position.

"We've discovered that in some matches in the past.

"If we want to finish off this group quickly and qualify tomorrow night then we must be ready for it from the word go."

Will the Reds outsmart the Greeks on Wednesday? Have your say

Tweet