Last updated: 29th August 2008
Wilkins: Confident about champions' chances
I don't think Manchester United give two hoots at this stage who they draw because they are that powerful.
Ray Wilkins
Quotes of the week
Champions League holders Manchester United have been drawn against Scottish champions Celtic in the group stages of this year's competition but Ray Wilkins told Sky Sports News that Sir Alex Ferguson's men will not be fazed by a second 'Battle of Britain'.
The duo, who will also face Spanish side Villarreal and Danish team Aalborg in Group E, met in the Champions League group stages in 2006/7 when United came out on top.
And Wilkins thinks the Premier League winners have the quality to fear no-one.
"Manchester United are so strong, I don't think they care who comes out of the hat to be honest," Wilkins told Sky Sports News.
"It's a nice little Battle of Britain again and I think Celtic have half a chance of getting out of the group.
"But I don't think Manchester United give two hoots at this stage who they draw because they are that powerful."
Last year's runners-up Chelsea were the first out of the hat and with ties to come against Roma, Bordeaux and Romanian minnows CFR Cluj in Group A, Luiz Felipe Scolari's men look to have been given the easiest route to the last 16 out of the British clubs.
"I don't think Chelsea could have handpicked their group any better," Wilkins added.
"It's just a good group for them. They should qualify with no problems whatsoever."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
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