Parkhead will be tonight’s venue for the second leg clash between Manchester United and Celtic Glasgow. United’s mentality has been boosted by the 3-0 victory they had a fortnight ago.

However, the Champions are not going into the game too much as the hot favourites. Both clubs have recently enjoyed two consecutive domestic wins; Celtic bounced back with good victories against Kilmarnock and Hearts while Manchester United strengthened their hopes to defend the Premiership title with wins over West Hammers and Hull City.

Manchester United will have to improve following their disappointing display against the Tigers last weekend. Lack of concentration in defence and inefficiency in front of goal almost coast them a memorable draw.

And a repeat of this performance is certainly not what will help them overturn the Parkhead factor, which is Ferguson’s main concern.

United were surely ‘unplayable’ at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, and though Celtic’s manager Gordon Strachan has a lot of respect for the European Champions, the Hoops are planning to overcome the Reds.

Celtic’s hopes of reaching the last sixteen are almost a faded dream; now, they are concentrating on clinching the third spot in Group E to contest in the UEFA Cup.

Manchester United need to win tonight to have automatic qualification. They top the group with 7 points like Villareal with a better goal difference though. And Ferguson wants to make sure his team finishes first to avoid other great teams in the draw for the quarter-final.

Everybody in the Manchester United camp is very much looking forward to tonight’s clash in Scotland, which promises to produce a boisterous atmosphere especially created by the home fans.

“Parkhead is the best I’ve experienced, certainly,” Fergie told The Mail.

“The players were just talking about that the other day. [Nemanja] Vidic and [Cristiano] Ronaldo were saying it’s the best atmosphere they had ever played in. Credit to the supporters for that because they don’t half raise the roof.”

The boss quite remembers the taste of defeat he had in the hands of the Hoops back in 2006 when Nakamura’s free kick sealed Celtic’s 1-0 famous victory…

“It won’t be easy, as it’s obvious the Celtic players react to it. We’re going to have to run that extra yard or we’ll soon be found out by them,” he continued.

Only Barcelona have won at Parkhead in the Champions League with a formidable 3-2 comeback victory.

Manchester United will want to be able to do the same, if not better than Barcelona – the team they beat to reach the Champions League final in Moscow.

Written by: Angela Asante