Sir Alex Ferguson is pinning his faith in
Manchester United's watertight defence to ensure his Champions League dreams are not put through the shredder by Benfica for the second season running.
Evra - has impressed at right-back.
After collecting nine points from their opening three fixtures, the
Red Devils have been plunged into an unexpected make-or-break decider with Benfica after successive single-goal defeats to FC Copenhagen and Celtic.
A draw will be enough to send
United through at
Old Trafford, although, while they did not know it at the time, the same scenario applied in the Stadium of Light 12 months ago, and Ferguson's team failed the test.
After performing so well in the Premiership this term, a second group-stage exit on the trot is almost unthinkable. And, while he accepts nerves could play a part, especially if the sides are level late in the game, Ferguson believes a defence that has conceded just five goals in their last 12 games, excluding Carling Cup ties, can provide the platform for victory.
"What the back four have done for us this season is absolutely fantastic," he said.
"If they maintain that stability and tightness in terms of not giving goals away, we have a massive chance of winning trophies this year and, on Wednesday, if we defend with good concentration and maintain that stability, we will have no problems."
With Rio Ferdinand turning in a consistent string of high-class performances and Nemanja Vidic excelling after recovering from the knee injury which kept him out of the World Cup,
United's central defensive until is as solid as the days when Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister used to block out the opposition.
The experience of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been essential too, while Patrice Evra has been a revelation in the left-back role.
However, while
United have largely managed to prevent the basic errors which cost them any chance of a title tilt last term, they have not lost the capacity to put their fans through torture.
Ferguson deserves some culpability for fielding a weakened team in Copenhagen which was not able to collect the point that would have secured a berth in the last 16 with two games to spare.
They would still have gone through had Louis Saha scored the last-minute penalty at Celtic instead of allowing Artur Boruc to save.
So, while the Glasgow outfit march on, it is
United who enter the last game looking to make it a British one-two.
"We have put ourselves in this situation," groaned Ferguson.
"Historically, that is exactly what we are like.
"We put these poor supporters of ours through the mill in a big way, and myself and everyone else.
"I suppose you get immune from it a little bit but that does not detract from the fact it is a massive game on Wednesday.
"We don't necessarily have to win but we will go out to win the match. We will make sure that is the case."
Ferguson, who travelled to Lisbon on Friday night to see Benfica beat Sporting 2-0, is expected to have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back on the bench after his recent hamstring injury.
