Defeated United need to quell fan unrest against Chelsea

PARIS – Faced with failing to clear the Champions League group stage for the first time in 11 years, Manchester United and manager Alex Ferguson need a convincing performance against Chelsea on Sunday to quiet fan unrest.

A 1-0 defeat by Lille on Wednesday left an uninspired and toothless United third in a tight Group D with two games left. Villarreal top the group with six points and United (five points with Lille) entertain the Spanish side on November 22 before travelling to Benfica (four) in the last round of matches.Of more immediate importance for a worried Ferguson is the Premier League game against champions Chelsea.Defeat at Old Trafford would end United’s already faint title aspirations and increase unrest among fans who booed off the United team at the Stade de France on Wednesday.”Without question, those fans want to see us win,” said Ferguson, in charge since 1986.”We were not in our best form, that has to be said.We are going to have to fight our way through this.”Manchester United have not failed to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League since the 1994/1995 season and they will have to find their scoring touch to make the last 16.- Nampa-ReutersVillarreal top the group with six points and United (five points with Lille) entertain the Spanish side on November 22 before travelling to Benfica (four) in the last round of matches.Of more immediate importance for a worried Ferguson is the Premier League game against champions Chelsea.Defeat at Old Trafford would end United’s already faint title aspirations and increase unrest among fans who booed off the United team at the Stade de France on Wednesday.”Without question, those fans want to see us win,” said Ferguson, in charge since 1986.”We were not in our best form, that has to be said.We are going to have to fight our way through this.”Manchester United have not failed to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League since the 1994/1995 season and they will have to find their scoring touch to make the last 16. – Nampa-Reuters