Fergie one step ahead

[Lazie]

<P class=big>Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a spying mission on Manchester United's UEFA Champions League opponents Lille last weekend.<P nd="1">United will play the French side in the second round of the competition, having been beaten by Lille in the tournament last year.<P nd="2">Revenge is likely to be in the air at Old Trafford and United secretary Ken Merrett revealed Ferguson watched Lille against St Etienne on Sunday.<P nd="3">"Strangely enough, he (Ferguson) saw Lille play against St Etienne and said what a good, strong, athletic side they were," Merrett told Sky Sports News.<P nd="4">"It's maybe not quite as much relief, as at this stage you are going to have a tough draw.<P nd="5">"We must fancy our chances and we're playing well, that's the important thing."<P nd="6">Merrett believes the disappointment of 12 months ago will act as a spur against Lille, particularly given the improvement in United's form.<P nd="7">He added: "It was very disappointing last year. We only drew at Old Trafford with Lille and didn't do very well when we played away.<P nd="8">"With the team playing well, and the players have improved since last year, we are more positive."<P nd="9">Lille play their home games away from their own Metropole ground, but Merrett does not see that as an inconvenience for Claude Puel's club.<P nd="10">He continued: "The thing is they played all of the group stage away from Lille and still qualified, so it's not made a big impact on them wherever they play.<P nd="11">"From United's point of view, we've got to get a result against them away and do the business at Old Trafford, which we didn't do last time."