why haven anyone talked abt the weekends matches? abt tevez scoring for man city, and our beloved team putting 4 past gianfranco zola's side? now we're within touching distants with chelsea, isnt that something we should be discussing about?

i dont think foster should play this. Yes, he deserve a chance to play, but wtf... our defense already so shaky, u wan put in foster summore... Might as well let the goal open la..

macheda didnt travel also? what happened to him?

With a Champions League Last 16 place already secured for the Reds, Sir Alex Ferguson says there is much less pressure on his injury-hit squad and the young players drafted in as cover.

United take on Wolfsburg in the Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday night with Group B’s top spot up for grabs, but Sir Alex says he cannot see a clear advantage in finishing first and so has turned his attentions to preserving his side for the busy Christmas league programme.

“Wolfsburg will be delighted that we have so many injuries because it’s a big game for them,” the boss in Germany on Monday. “My main concern is getting players back from injury. I have to look at the bigger picture and that means looking to Saturday [against Aston Villa] and future league games.”

It goes without saying that the United players will be doing their utmost to win in Germany, but the quality and unpredictably of this year’s European tournament means that finishing second is much less of a stumbling block than it might be in other years.

“We’ve qualified for the Last 16, and looking at the groups I’m not sure whether first or second really matters,” said the boss. “So that is a major boost to us. If we are second, I don’t know if it does matter.

“In one group you’ve potentially got AC Milan or Real Madrid, in another you’ve got Barcelona, Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan, another you have Fiorentina and Lyon, or Bordeaux, Bayern and Juventus. You get one of those teams and it doesn’t really matter. They’re all of a similar quality - very good teams.

“The only advantage you’re giving away by finishing second is playing the home game first in the knockout round.”

United are facing an injury crisis of epic proportions, and not just in defence, with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov joining an ever-increasing list of players on the treatment table.

There was a further blow to the Reds' rearguard with news that John O'Shea and Jonny Evans will both be out until the New Year.

Sir Alex took a depleted Reds squad to Germany for United's final Group B game with Wolfsburg - a 19-man group containing 13 midfielders.

The United boss first faces a headache trying to select a team to tackle the German champions, but also has an eye on an ever more tricky league tie with Aston Villa on Saturday.

United hope Wes Brown (hamstring) and Nemanja Vidic (flu) will replenish the Reds' decimated defence. But the injury problems don't stop there. Neither Rooney (hamstring) nor Berbatov (knee) travelled to Germany and both men are doubtful to play against Villa.

“There’s no good news with all these injured players," the boss said at his pre-Wolfsburg press conference on Monday. "We've left several players behind and have a lot of thinking to do about team selection."

Patrice Evra is the only fit and recognised defender in the team out in Germany, and Sir Alex at least isn't letting the situation get him down too much. “It’s worth trying one defender!" he joked. "Manchester United are always first at doing something, so we will try and do that again on Tuesday by playing with just one defender!

"We know we have a difficult task picking a back four that can unite together and give me good organisation and good passing ability considering we don’t have natural centre-backs. These are the decisions we are addressing, and hopefully we get the answer."

With United already through to the next round of the Champions League, domestic matters take precedence. But the picture is no less bleak on that front.

"As we've explained with Rio Ferdinand, we don't have a time schedule for him, and John O'Shea and Jonny Evans are both out until January. They’re out for a few weeks, and they're the major injuries as it stands.

"Rafael and Fabio will certainly not [feature against Villa]. We're hoping that we can have Wes Brown fit for Saturday. But it's a  strain and it won't be an easy one."

There was some good news in that Ryan Giggs, also missing from the group that travelled to Wolfsburg, will be fit for Saturday. But the news regarding Berbatov and Rooney is less positive.

"We left Ryan behind because we’ve been playing him in one game a week and that has worked for us. He is fit for Saturday, but Berbatov and Rooney are both doubtful."

What the hell.

We have an amazing entire 11 including subs out with injury! MADNESS!

John O'Shea (thigh), Jonny Evans (calf), Nemanja Vidic (flu), Rio Ferdinand (calf), Wes Brown (hamstring), Gary Neville (groin), Rafael (shoulder) and Fabio da Silva (groin)