Sir Alex planning new lessons for old pupil

Footballing payback
Those same 'old boys' clawed ten points off Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC as United strode to the domestic half of their impressive double of English and European titles, eventually completed via that tumultuous UEFA Champions League final penalty shoot-out defeat of Chelsea in Moscow. But Gordon Strachan is not cut from the same cloth, it appears. The last time the Celtic FC manager went head to head with his former Aberdeen FC, United and Scotland boss in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League, the Parkhead side's 1-0 home victory – allied to a rumbustious 3-2 away loss – would have been enough to prevail on away goals in a knockout format. Although there will be more than enough at stake when the sides meet again at Old Trafford on Tuesday, Scottish bragging rights and the infamous Glasgow sense of humour mean the United manager will stand for nothing less than footballing payback, and an evening of the scores with his erstwhile pupil.

Glasgow humour
"No matter that there will be Japanese, Argentinian, Portuguese, Korean or whichever players involved, there is definitely a 'Scotland v England' element whenever Celtic and United play," Sir Alex said. "Celtic have quite a few Scots in their side and United an equal number of English so there is no question about it. What's more, we lost the last time we went up there. Now I, more than anyone, am aware of that and what it means when you go back up to Glasgow. You lose that game and I have to endure all the nonsense attached to me going back up there. What I relish is that it's going to be a game of fervour because Celtic play with a big heart. They always have done. That's the nature of the football club as it is with Rangers [FC] – there is always fantastic commitment when you face these clubs."

Ferocious intent
The words are loaded with respect but the fact of the matter is that ferocity of intent, on Celtic's part, may not be enough. Despite a commendable performance on Matchday 2, Strachan's team lost at Villarreal CF and Celtic have now failed to win any of their 18 away ties in the competition. United, in comparison, are undefeated in 16 UEFA Champions League outings at Old Trafford. Despite those worrying statistics, however, Strachan believes he and his team can take heart from the fact that their Parkhead win against the same opponents two years ago felt like an away success, such was United's dominance in possession and territory.

Dramatic victory
Two tactical changes dulled United's attack and a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick ultimately gave Celtic a momentous 1-0 victory. "I think the team and I 'managed' that game very well in a European sense," recalls Strachan. "In big games and big competitions like this one, it's about decision-making a lot of the time. I remember after about half an hour of the game at Parkhead, we were getting swamped, really badly. We changed back to 4-5-1, putting [Maciej] Żurawski on the right-hand side. His face was a picture because he'd never played there before in his life. But from thinking that if we got 15 minutes of respite like that we might build a platform, we actually got away with it and got the victory. One thing is for sure – this is Manchester United and Celtic. We will have to attack each other, it's in our nature."