Fergie faces up to gruelling Euro trips

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s gruelling Champions League trips to Turkish champions Besiktas and Russia’s CSKA Moscow make their group a tough proposition.

United were pitted against Besiktas, CSKA Moscow and German champions Wolfsburg in Thursday’s draw for the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.

Besiktas won the Turkish title for the first time in six years last season, while CSKA are Russian’s league and cup holders.

While none of those teams have United’s experience in the Champions League, the 2009 runners-up won’t be looking forward to two long journeys and the prospect of having to returning to domestic league action while still drained from the flight home.

“These are difficult ties, especially the trips to Russia and Turkey,” Ferguson told United’s website.

“CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult.”

United, who were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in last year’s final, avoided a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford Real Madrid in a world record 80 million pounds transfer in June.

But Ferguson won’t underestimate any of the teams in United’s group, with Wolfsburg, who won the German title for the first time last season, a particular concern for the Premier League champions.

“We also know the quality that we’re up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season,” Ferguson added.