Benfica 0 - 1 Manchester United

Benfica v Man Utd: Preview

Updated: September 25, 2006, 2:29 PM ET

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to come good when Manchester United embark on their Champions League revenge mission against Benfica on Tuesday night.

For differing reasons, the Red Devils' hottest young properties head into the Stadium of Light duel with major question marks hanging over them.

Ronaldo returns to his homeland anxious to avoid a repeat of the temper tantrum that accompanied his previous visit, which ended with an ill-advised 'one-figured' salute to the home supporters who baited him mercilessly for his affiliation to bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon.

Rooney, meanwhile, is looking to emerge from the first extended below-par run of his fledgling career and also score his first goals in Europe since his debut-day hat-trick against Fenerbahce, since when two years and nine games have elapsed.

The barren run includes last season's 2-1 defeat on the same ground to the same opposition, a loss which sent United tumbling out of the Champions League in embarrassment, unable to even snatch the safety net of a UEFA Cup spot.

Under the circumstances, some doubt would be only natural. But, as Ferguson looked ahead to a game where victory would cement a place at the top of Group F, Ferguson insisted he has none.

"I am not concerned about Wayne's form at all,'' he said. "All he needs his games.

"I have made the point a number of times about how little football the lad has played over the past six months.

"He did well at Reading on Saturday. He showed a big improvement. There was far more sharpness from him and I am sure that progress will continue.

"If you start to doubt that I don't know how you can take it further.''

Ferguson's clear inference is that none of Rooney's previously superhuman powers have been sapped away by the broken foot he suffered at Chelsea last term which initially threatened his participation at the World Cup and ultimately left him badly short of match practice.

Having played in every match on Portugal's run to the semi-finals, including the stormy last-eight meeting with England, match practice is not something Ronaldo has been lacking.

Throughout the season so far, the 21-year-old has been United most potent attacking threat and his brilliant equaliser at Reading merely confirmed the danger which exists every time he picks up possession.

Yet, despite rising above the taunts which have accompanied him to every Premiership away ground this season, Lisbon remains unconquered territory for a player United assistant-boss Carlos Queiroz believes will eventually become the best on the planet.

Ferguson though has no plan to offer the youngster any specific advice, preferring instead to let his electric feet do the talking.

"I have not spoken to the boy,'' he said.

"I don't need to. Cristiano is intelligent and he understands the situation.

"He has been fantastic for us so far this season, probably our best player. He is growing up terrifically and has a fantastic future ahead of him.''

With Louis Saha still doubtful after picking up a groin injury in training that limited the Frenchman to just half-an-hour's action off the substitutes bench at the Madejski Stadium, Ferguson may be forced to rely on Rooney and Ronaldo rather more than he would have hoped.

After spending the last couple of seasons emphasising his was a team under construction and lacking the experience required to make an impact among Europe's big hitters, Ferguson knows it is time to start delivering.

And, rather like a defeat to Juventus a decade ago proved to be the defining moment for the side which went on to win the trophy in 1999, Ferguson is hoping the bitter experience of last year's Lisbon trip can have the same effect on the current United squad.

"I hope it does something similar,'' reflected the Scot.

"We have the ability, there is no question about that, and I believe we have a good squad which is much stronger in terms of being able to handle injuries.

"When you think about maturing mentally, you hope the experience of games like the one against Benfica last year can drive the message home far more than the words I could ever say.''