Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected fears Wayne Rooney may be distracted from Manchester United's crucial Champions League clash at Basle on Wednesday by UEFA's disciplinary hearing into his three-match international suspension later this week.

Rooney will learn on Thursday whether his appeal against the suspension handed down for his dismissal in England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October has been successful, with the Football Association hopeful the punishment will be reduced.

The hearing is an unwanted distraction for United manager Ferguson, coming as it does just a day after his side's meeting with Basle.

But with United still requiring a point from their final game against the Swiss champions to reach the last 16, and both Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez ruled out by injury, Ferguson expects Rooney to focus on club matters on Wednesday night."I don't think that comes into it at all,'' said Ferguson when asked if the hearing was likely to affect Rooney's focus. "He has a game on Wednesday. An important game.''

Even in the worst of times Rooney managed to perform at Basle's St Jakob Park, emerging from distractions in his private life to score for England in a vital qualifier against Switzerland in September last year.

Of more significance to Ferguson is his side's impressive away record in Europe. Since losing the second leg of their semi-final against AC Milan in 2007, United have suffered just one defeat in 23 away matches - to Bayern Munich two seasons ago.

It is that form Ferguson will rely on as his side look to avoid a repeat of what befell them in their first encounter with Basle in September, when they threw away a two-goal lead and needed a last-gasp Ashley Young leveller to earn a 3-3 draw.

"There was obvious complacency in the game when it went 2-0,'' said Ferguson. "We showed a lack of discipline in the second half.

"Fortunately we managed to waken up late in the game to get a result which has maybe rescued us in this section.''

Basle skipper Marco Streller accused United of not taking the Swiss champions seriously at Old Trafford.

Streller believes the astonishing about-turn in that match was made possible by Ferguson's men taking it easy at a time of the season when they were scoring goals for fun.

"At 2-0, it seemed to me they didn't take us seriously,'' he said.

"But after that, I know they will not underestimate us again. They will take us seriously because now they know we are a good team. We have proved it already.''

Basle's build-up has not been entirely problem-free.

Midfielder Benjamin Huggel has been ruled out with a calf problem, forcing coach Heiko Vogel into a reshuffle, although Basle, unbeaten since a home defeat by Benfica, did overcome Lucerne in a league game without the 34-year-old at the weekend.

Vogel feels there may be even more importance on this game because United's rivals Manchester City have taken a healthy five-point lead in the Premier League.

"At the moment Manchester City are really in form in the Premier League, but maybe not so much in the Champions League,'' he said.

"With Manchester United it seems to be the other way round.

"But they are still one of the strongest teams in the world.

"They reached the final last year and in 2008 they won the competition without losing a match, so we have to respect them.''


Match

On behalf of the manager, the entire choaching staff and the players, we would luv our fans to give us d maximum suport as we move into the europa league tonite. U known it as been a while since we lifted such a priceless trophy but we want to do it dis year we are not in d same class with real madrid, barcelona, bayern munich. We are out of d carling cup potencially out of d fa cup we can't retain our league tittle so it more wise to bow into d europa league than to get knocked out in d last 16 like arsenal.

On behalf of the manager, the entire choaching staff and the players, we would luv our fans to give us d maximum suport as we move into the europa league tonite. U known it as been a while since we lifted such a priceless trophy but we want to do it dis year we are not in d same class with real madrid, barcelona, bayern munich. We are out of d carling cup potencially out of d fa cup we can't retain our league tittle so it more wise to bow into d europa league than to get knocked out in d last 16 like arsenal.

Adetayo, go hug a wet trannsormer. All the teams you have mentioned have all lost games and dropped points. Barca have drawn games and lost one. Madrid too did the same. Bayern have lost 4 times in the leagues, united have lost once. United haven't been scoring goals for fun but when the injured guys come back it will become trailer loads of goals,

Basel 1 United 3

Adetayo100:

On behalf of the manager, the entire choaching staff and the players, we would luv our fans to give us d maximum suport as we move into the europa league tonite. U known it as been a while since we lifted such a priceless trophy but we want to do it dis year we are not in d same class with real madrid, barcelona, bayern munich. We are out of d carling cup potencially out of d fa cup we can't retain our league tittle so it more wise to bow into d europa league than to get knocked out in d last 16 like arsenal.

who's this united wannabe, puhleeezzzzz, go bleep ursef,

@Adetayo you're out of order!1 i can bet he's an Arsenal fan.

united

game on

goooallll for baseeellll!!!

Streller

Things are not going man united way at the moment.Benfica are 1 goal up

Bad time for Chicharito to get injured, I wonder who will do the scoring for Manu. Must be hard for Man u fans, thank God we qualified already, greetings from round 16

Looooooong nite for Man U. 2nite! UEFA CUP LOL

Yes oooH! And this is not Premiership, No SYMPATHY from the Officials!!!

As it stands Live. Man City 2-0 Bayern Munich. But City and Utd still packing their bags to Uefa Cup to continue their Derby. Except for any later changes.

Mayb manu is afraid of the jessy,, barca like one.

ONE-2-ONE:

As it stands Live. Man City 2-0 Bayern Munich. But City and Utd still packing their bags to Uefa Cup to continue their Derby. Except for any later changes.

Napoli 2  Vlr 0

Money can not buy you champion League

basel you can do!!
yes you can

SAF is losing this game. smalling as a fullback is good defensively but gives nothing goin forward.wit vidic"s injury he should hv moved jones to RB ,smallin into CB nd fletcher in d midfield rather than bringin on evans

crap

mukina2:

basel you  can do!!
yes you can

Manu is OUT!
A draw is nt even gud 4 manu

its agoal Basel2-0 manu

WOW!!!

This is the best day ever. Manchester United escorting Manchester City out of ECL in the group stages,

basel 2 man u 0

The two Manchester clubs are officially in Europa now. Wonder what Gary Neville has to say this time.

goooaaal 2 --000000000000

hahahahahahah

outtttttt

YEBARIBA swagaaa swagaaa

I am interested in coogars analysis today

This is impossible  

Man U sorry, Basel 2 - 0 ManU

Man U is out oc UCL 11/12 season in round of 16.

Arsenal through already,  ROTFLMAO

Frei just nailed the coffin