Key duo make trip to Munich

by JP Lonergan , 29 March 2010

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand have travelled to Munich ahead of Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final first leg.


The pair missed Saturday's 4-0 Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers with a bruised foot and groin injury respectively, but both have declared themselves fit for the game against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

The Red Devils started slowly against Bolton but in the end did not miss the England pair too much as Edwin van der Sar shone in goal and an own goal from Bolton's Jlloyd Samuel was followed up by a Dimitar Berbatov double and a fourth from sub Darron Gibson.

United, of course, celebrated one of their most famous ever wins against the German side when they came from a goal down late on to win the final of the competition at Camp Nou in 1999. That though is the only time United have beaten Bayern, having lost both legs of the 2001 quarter-final.

Ryan Giggs is one of only four players still in the squad from those seasons and he admits that, Barcelona in 1999 apart, United need to improve on their record against the Bavarians.

"I am a little bit surprised about our overall record but it has always been tight," he said.

"It is usually difficult against German sides, and against the top ones even more so.

"We have won the European Cup three times. They have won it on four occasions so you are talking about two clubs with massive history; full of experience and full of great players so hopefully it's going to be a great spectacle."

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