Manchester United appears in a rush to reach the knockout round of the Champions League after failing to get there last season for the first time in 10 years.
A victory over FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday will give the Red Devils a maximum nine points from three games. United would then have beaten all three group rivals _ including Celtic and Benfica _ enough to put it on the verge of reaching the last 16 with three games still to go.
Lack of success in the competition since its 1999 triumph over Bayern Munich is a painful subject with manager Sir Alex Ferguson. United finished bottom of its group last season and didn't even have the consolation of dropping into the UEFA Cup.
Only a major collapse will stop United emerging from the Champions League group stage this time.
Wayne Rooney's return to form and Cristiano Ronaldo's recall after injury point to a home victory against a Copenhagen side which has one point and no goals scored.
Ferguson's team comes off a 3-1 victory at Wigan on Saturday when Rooney _ who has not scored for England in 14 competitive matches or for United since the opening day of the season _ set up two of the goals.
``He was right back to his best for 90 minutes,'' Ferguson said. ``Even (last week's) international games helped him to reach the right level in his game.''
Ronaldo missed the game at Wigan with a ankle injury but is fit to play on Wednesday.
``There is no doubt Cristiano can become the best player in the world,'' Ferguson said. ``He has everything really and, in terms of players who can attack defenders at speed, no one in Europe comes close.
``There are some central midfield players like Kaka and Ronaldinho, who can attack from central areas and are very good at it. But they are world-class players anyway.
``Ronaldo is in that bracket now,'' Ferguson said. ``He runs with the ball at such incredible speed it is not easy for defenders to handle him and his record for Portugal shows you exactly where he is going.''
If Rooney and Ronaldo are on form on Tuesday, Copenhagen's defence will have a busy night at Old Trafford as United chases its ninth victory in 11 games this season. Ferguson's team tops the Premier League on goal difference from Chelsea and its victories over Celtic and Benfica have put it in control of Group F.
Copenhagen is already without injured Danish international Jesper Gronkjaer, who played in England for Chelsea and Birmingham City. Swedish star Tobias Linderoth is waiting to become a father but Copenhagen hopes he may make the journey if his wife, Maria, gives birth ahead of the match.
The Danish team is home to Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
