GIGGS: MAN UNITED WILL UPSET BAYERN MUNICH

Ryan Giggs is convinced that Manchester United can upset the odds and win the Champions League this season.
The latest chapter in one of Europe's most fierce rivalries will be written on Tuesday when Bayern Munich come to Old Trafford for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
Giggs is the only survivor from the most memorable match between the two European heavyweights 15 years ago.
On that night in Barcelona, United produced one of the most dramatic and unexpected comebacks in history, scoring two goals in stoppage time to beat Bayern 2-1.
After such a woeful season under David Moyes, United are big underdogs with the bookmakers just to get past the European champions, yet alone make the final in May and lift the trophy.
But that does not faze Giggs one bit.''Of course it is possible (for United to win the Champions League),'' the midfielder said.''You need to play well, to get that little bit of luck which we didn't have last year.''Being criticised comes with the territory when you are a Manchester United player and Bayern are a fantastic team.''They are favourites in most people's eyes, but we are Manchester United and at Old Trafford we have had so many great nights.''We don't see ourselves as underdogs.''It is going to be tough but it is always is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. We are looking forward to it.''Giggs' appearance at the pre-match press conference suggests the 40-year-old could start on Tuesday.
Although Robin van Persie's hat-trick against Olympiacos secured United's progression to the last eight, Giggs' contribution to the second leg was arguably as big.The United midfielder rolled back the years to set up two goals with a pair of glorious long passes.
Rafael (hamstring) missed training on Monday morning and is a doubt for United, while Alex Buttner (hamstring), Jonny Evans (calf), Chris Smalling (hamstring), Rio Ferdinand (back) and Antonio Valencia (knee) have overcome their respective injuries, but midfielder Tom Cleverley was also absent from training.United might have snapped up Pep Guardiola last summer had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson's thick Glaswegian accent.
When Guardiola steps onto the Old Trafford turf on Tuesday night, many United fans will be wishing he was heading for the home dugout rather than the away one.After winning the Champions League with Barcelona twice, Guardiola took a 12-month sabbatical before deciding to take the reins at the Allianz Arena.
Speculation was rife that Ferguson offered Guardiola the chance to succeed him at Old Trafford when the pair met for lunch in New York five months before the Scot announced his retirement.
Guardiola concedes he may have been given a chance to take the position at United, but the offer could have been lost in translation.``He invited me to a super restaurant (in New York),'' the Bayern coach said. ``It was a friendly dinner, like always. He was so gentle and we spent a very good time together.``My English is not so good and when Sir Alex spoke quickly I didn't understand him so maybe I didn't understand if I received an offer or not!''Guardiola's humorous attempt to dodge a question regarding the meeting in December suggests the topic of Ferguson's retirement did come up.Guardiola has no plans to leave Munich any time soon, but when he does decide to move on, he will not be short of offers.
The Spaniard is wary of the fact that United are underdogs in their own stadium, though.``Last season Bayern won everything and this season we are over 20 points ahead of our opponents with seven matches to spare,'' Guardiola said.``But I know in the deep of my heart which team we are going to play against.``Maybe they haven't had a good season in the league but when I see (Wayne) Rooney, (Nemanja) Vidic, Rio (Ferdinand), Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and (Danny) Welbeck, I see very good players.``I don't know why United haven't played well in the league, but over one game or two games, they can beat us.''With Thiago Alcantara out through injury, more pressure will fall on the shoulders of Toni Kroos.
As well as Thiago, Bayern will be without Holger Badstuber and left-back Diego Contento, who are also injured.