MANCHESTER: Manchester United will open their Premier League season against Newcastle United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming the Champions League will be his priority this season.
In a break from his usual stance, the Old Trafford boss has outlined his desperation to make up for last season`s quarter-final exit in the competition.
United went out on away goals in April after drawing 4-4 on aggregate with Bayern Munich in two compelling contests, particularly the game at Old Trafford where a stunning Arjen Robben goal for Bayern plus Rafael`s sending off provided the talking points.
United`s exit rankled with Ferguson at the time and it still rankles with him now and he considers rectifying last season`s "unlucky" Champions League campaign as the most important job on his to-do list.
"I think that when you lose the (Premier League) title by a point you feel where did you lose the point that mattered?," he said.
"You could examine many games that way but for my perspective, during the history of this club, the European Cup is a big attraction. "For me, anyway," added Ferguson ahead of United`s domestic opener at Old Trafford on Monday.
"We were terribly unlucky last year we were certain to get to the final -- we just did not have that luck.
"But that must be a priority."
However, Ferguson was also keen to stress the Premier League title -- and the fanatical support the league engenders -- also means United will be striving to regain the title they lost to Chelsea last term.
"Because the Premier League is such a tribalistic competition you cannot help but go for it," Ferguson explained.
"Every game is so competitive, you have six or seven competitors, you can`t avoid going for it," the Scot added.
Few but the most ardent Newcastle supporters would give Chris Hughton`s side a chance of recording their first league win at Old Trafford in almost four decades as the Football League champions return to the Premier League following a season-long absence.
It`s approaching nine years since Newcastle`s last victory over United in any competition, since when they`ve lost 13 of the clubs` 16 meetings, although they did emerge with a creditable 1-1 draw on their most recent Old Trafford visit to open the campaign in 2008.
With Dan Gosling out until January following knee surgery and Sol Campbell still struggling for match fitness, defender James Perch, a one million pounds signing from Nottingham Forest, is likely to be the only one of Hughton`s pre-season arrivals on show.
Andy Carroll, the England Under-21 forward, has recovered from a back problem to wear the number nine shirt for the first time after he was allocated Newcastle`s iconic jersey in a major vote of confidence from the manager.
Hughton, who is without injured striker Leon Best in addition to long-term casualties Steven Taylor and Danny Simpson, admits the North-East club are taking a step into the unknown as they contemplate life back in the top-flight.
"We`re not quite sure what the season holds for us," said Hughton.
"Some people might be pleasantly surprised, some might be disappointed - we don`t know.
"It`s a daunting task to stay in the division and the standards have got higher. We`re amongst all of that and to be honest, we just don`t know what is ahead. What we are certain about is that there has been no talk of relegation or avoiding relegation, none."
BDST: 1516HRS, August 15, 2010
