Ferguson: We won't fail again

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted there would be no repeat of last season's Champions League humiliation.

Ferguson suffered one of the lowest points of his near 20-year reign eight months ago when United failed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time. The preceding seven years had seen United win the tournament in 1999, reach the quarter-finals on three occasions, the last 16 twice and the semi-finals once.

"After last year, I have a great thirst about the Champions League," said Ferguson. "We have to repay our fans and the club for the disappointment of last season. We won't let them down again."

Following the group-stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, United will this season face Scottish champions Celtic, a return with Benfica and tournament first-timers, Denmark champions FC Copenhagen.

Former Rangers player Ferguson, who is understood to have an uneasy relationship with Celtic boss Gordon Strachan, knows the knockout phase is a minimum requirement on this occasion.

United have never played Celtic in a competitive game, but beat them 1-0 in Roy Keane's testimonial in May at Old Trafford, and again 3-0 in a friendly at Parkhead last month.

As for Benfica, it was effectively they who ended United's interest last season in the competition with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light in December.

And while United have never met FC Copenhagen before, they did twice beat another Danish side - Brondby - on the way to their title triumph in 1999.