Leverkusen take on Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but Toppmoeller is clear of his priorities.

'What we want badly is the league title and I'm convinced we will take it,' said the Leverkusen coach, whose team face a crowded schedule with next month's German Cup final against holders Schalke 04 to look forward to as well.

'To put our hands on the Bundesliga trophy is far more important to us than the German Cup or the Champions League,' added Toppmoeller.

Leverkusen are only two points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund with two Bundesliga games left after losing 2-1 at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt said the visit to Old Trafford is perfectly timed.

'It's a good thing that we will be playing again on Wednesday,' he said. 'That way we can't keep complaining about what happened in Bremen because we have another job to do.'

Leverkusen have built a reputation for upsetting English clubs this season as they qualified for the last eight of the Champions League at Arsenal's expense before knocking out Liverpool to advance to the semifinals for the first time.

But Toppmoeller was not taking anything for granted this time and has shown Manchester United all due respect.

SAFETY FIRST

'We know that they have superb players and we all realise what they are capable of,' he said.

Toppmoeller said his team would try to play it safe at Old Trafford on Wednesday to keep the tie alive before the second leg in front of their own fans the following week.

'A solid performance in defence will be the key,' said the German coach, who was expected to field just one man up front in Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov.

Strikers Ulf Kirsten and Oliver Neuville should both start on the bench, while fellow forward Thomas Brdaric was scratched from the lineup after sustaining a foot injury.

Toppmoeller has no other major injury worries but seven of his players -- including defenders Lucio and Jens Nowotny as well as inspirational midfielder Michael Ballack -- go into the game just one yellow card away from suspension for the second leg.

A good result on Wednesday was vital not only to keep Leverkusen on course for the final, Toppmoeller said.