Manchester:
Manchester United will aim to extend their impressive winning run to eight matches when they face Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg in Wednesday's Champions League clash at Old Trafford.
United opened their attempt to get to a third consecutive Champions League final with a 1-0 victory against Besiktas in their first match and Wolfsburg defeated CSKA Moscow to set up a tie that could have significant implications for the Group B final standings.
United will start favourites after proving formidable at home in European competition in recent years and they have also won six successive domestic encounters - as well as that Besiktas clash - since their shock Premier League loss to Burnley.
Their last win came at Stoke City on Saturday and one of the goal-scorers in that match, John O'Shea, is determined that seven consecutive wins will become eight against Wolfsburg.
"We knew we had to put a good run together after the Burnley defeat which was a freak result," he said.
"We've always responded well to results like that with a great run of victories, but the games keep on coming and we've got to keep that run going."
United's last match at Old Trafford was against rivals Manchester City and ended in a narrow 4-3 victory, with goalkeeper Ben Foster to blame for City's opening goal after dwelling over a clearance.
He redeemed himself at the weekend and will be looking to erase recent doubts about his form against Wolfsburg, something team-mate and defender Nemanja Vidic is confident will occur.
"I feel very comfortable with Ben in goal and I have great confidence in him," he said. "The more games you play with the same keeper or the same defenders, the more you learn how to play with each other."
Despite Vidic's confidence, Foster knows that Wolfsburg will present a stern test because United will be up against the most formidable scoring partnership in the history of German football.
Brazilian Grafite and Edin Dzeko of Bosnia scored 54 goals between them last season as Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga for the first time.
Dzeko grabbed 26 with Grafite getting the remaining 28 and although United have not lost a Champions League home match since February 2005, when they lost 1-0 to AC Milan, Grafite believes he can help end that run.
"We are looking forward to going there," he said. "We want to have a good match and bring back one or three points. That is our objective.
"This is a team that has grown together, has had difficulties together but is going through a marvellous period together. There is a brotherhood together on the pitch and in the dressing room."
Grafite's strike partner agreed and is thrilled by the prospect of playing at Old Trafford.
"It will be something unbelievable to play Manchester United," he said.
"It's a chance for me to play against some of the best defensive players in Europe, and I want to show that I can play on the big stage."
United opened their attempt to get to a third consecutive Champions League final with a 1-0 victory against Besiktas in their first match and Wolfsburg defeated CSKA Moscow to set up a tie that could have significant implications for the Group B final standings.
United will start favourites after proving formidable at home in European competition in recent years and they have also won six successive domestic encounters - as well as that Besiktas clash - since their shock Premier League loss to Burnley.
Their last win came at Stoke City on Saturday and one of the goal-scorers in that match, John O'Shea, is determined that seven consecutive wins will become eight against Wolfsburg.
"We knew we had to put a good run together after the Burnley defeat which was a freak result," he said.
"We've always responded well to results like that with a great run of victories, but the games keep on coming and we've got to keep that run going."
United's last match at Old Trafford was against rivals Manchester City and ended in a narrow 4-3 victory, with goalkeeper Ben Foster to blame for City's opening goal after dwelling over a clearance.
He redeemed himself at the weekend and will be looking to erase recent doubts about his form against Wolfsburg, something team-mate and defender Nemanja Vidic is confident will occur.
"I feel very comfortable with Ben in goal and I have great confidence in him," he said. "The more games you play with the same keeper or the same defenders, the more you learn how to play with each other."
Despite Vidic's confidence, Foster knows that Wolfsburg will present a stern test because United will be up against the most formidable scoring partnership in the history of German football.
Brazilian Grafite and Edin Dzeko of Bosnia scored 54 goals between them last season as Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga for the first time.
Dzeko grabbed 26 with Grafite getting the remaining 28 and although United have not lost a Champions League home match since February 2005, when they lost 1-0 to AC Milan, Grafite believes he can help end that run.
"We are looking forward to going there," he said. "We want to have a good match and bring back one or three points. That is our objective.
"This is a team that has grown together, has had difficulties together but is going through a marvellous period together. There is a brotherhood together on the pitch and in the dressing room."
Grafite's strike partner agreed and is thrilled by the prospect of playing at Old Trafford.
"It will be something unbelievable to play Manchester United," he said.
"It's a chance for me to play against some of the best defensive players in Europe, and I want to show that I can play on the big stage."
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