Champions League

Nemanja Vidic backs Manchester United to combat Cristiano Ronaldo

By Liam Power, Reporter | 06 February 2013

Nemanja Vidic believes that Manchester United have enough experience and quality to stop Cristiano Ronaldo when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic believes that his side are capable of stopping Cristiano Ronaldo when they face Real Madrid next week.

Vidic thinks that United have learnt from their mistakes in the Champions League last season, when they failed to qualify from the group stages.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side progressed safely this season to book a two-legged tie with Jose Mourinho's men, which begins at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.

The Serbian centre-back has declared that the key to the tie lies in keeping a clean sheet in Madrid.

He told FourFourTwo: "We're going to have to play as a team there. We need to get it right defensively and not concede many goals in the first leg.

"You have to be solid as a team, not just at the back but all over the pitch. You have to have quality. We have a big squad and young players coming through with experience from playing games last year, which is a big help to the team.

"A lot of our players have matured now. There is a long way to go, but we will see."

United currently sit top of the Premier League with a nine-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City.