UNITED DRAW AGAINST VALENCIA

Manchester United drew with Valencia in the last match of the group stages to win the group. Succeeding in their aim of avoiding Real Madrid and Barcelona, United could be pitted against runners-up like Inter Milan, Lyon, Marseille, AC Milan or Copenhagen when Sir Bobby Charlton assists the last-16 pairings in Nyon.

Copenhagen would be the preferred choice, although a meeting with Inter, reviving the Ferguson-Rafa Benitez rivalry, would appeal to drama-lovers and headline-writers. Ferguson simply focused only on eluding Real and Barcelona. "Hopefully we will get them later on,'' said the United manager. "We can make progress, that's the most important thing.''

Wayne Rooney agreed. "In the main, the best teams finish top,'' said the United forward. "Inter Milan finished second so we could meet them. But we are confident we could beat anyone.''