Hargreaves warns United to expect Roman revenge mission

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, seen here in August 2007, has warned Manchester United that Roma will be thirsting for revenge in Tuesday´s potentially explosive Champions League tie at Old Trafford.

      MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Owen Hargreaves has warned Manchester United that Roma will be thirsting for revenge in Tuesday's potentially explosive Champions League tie at Old Trafford.

      Sir Alex Ferguson's side thrashed the Italians 7-1 when they met in the quarter-finals of Europe's top club competition last season.

      Only six months later, Roma have the chance to regain some pride at the scene of one of most humiliating defeats in their history.

      United midfielder Hargreaves watched that game on television with his then Bayern Munich team-mates, but he will be in the firing line when Roma return to Manchester for the Group F fixture.

      The England international is set to make his European debut for the Premier League champions after recovering from a thigh strain and is determined to ensure United guard against a backlash.

      "There will be no repeat of the 7-1," Hargreaves said. "Those results possibly happen once every three or four years in the entire competition. It is just not going to happen again.

      "We have put ourselves in a good position by winning in Lisbon. Now, we have three home games to play. If we win those we will be comfortably into the next round. Roma is the next stepping stone towards that.

      "I am sure they will try to come and avenge what happened last season but I expect us to win the game."

      Big European matches at Old Trafford have a special atmosphere, but there will be an added spice to the occasion after the crowd trouble that blighted both meetings between the clubs last season.

      United fans were attacked by Roma hooligans and Italian police during the first leg in Rome and there were skirmishes outside Old Trafford before the return.

      Security is certain to be high and both teams will need to keep their cool to avoid inflaming the situation.

      Hargreaves's ability to cope with the biggest matches was one of the main reasons Ferguson was so determined to sign him and the Canadian-born star can't wait to sample the atmosphere.

      "I have had a lot of experience at Bayern Munich and been successful in the Champions League, so I am very excited about playing in this competition with United," he said.

      "I have heard the European nights at Old Trafford are very special, so I am looking forward to that. The atmosphere against Chelsea last week was exceptional and I look forward to a similar atmosphere, if not better, against Roma."

      The principle threat to United's hopes of continuing their 100 percent start in Europe is Francesco Totti and the Italian striker will be motivated by a desire to erase the memory of the saddest night of his career.

      Totti has been Roma's captain and talisman for over a decade, as well as helping Italy win last year's World Cup.

      His dazzling reputation was further bolstered last season as he claimed 26 goals for Roma to earn the European Golden Boot, awarded to the continent's top scorer.

      But the 31-year-old was completely anonymous as Roma slumped to that dismal defeat in Manchester.

      Luciano Spalletti's side crumbled under the pressure of a overwhelming performance that Ferguson was moved to describe as United's best in Europe during his 21-year reign at Old Trafford.

      Totti was devastated by the loss and would love nothing better than to exact a measure of revenge.

      Roma endured a miserable preparation for what promised to be their toughest assignment in the group stage when they were thrashed 4-1 at home by Inter Milan on Saturday.

      Despite Hargreaves's caution, Roma's run of three games without a win will only strengthen United's belief that they are the cream of the crop in Group F.