Darren Fletcher admits Manchester United will have to be at their best if they are to avoid being dumped out of the Champions League.
'It doesn't get much bigger than this' insists United midfielder
Darren Fletcher admits Manchester United will have to be at their best if they are to avoid being dumped out of the Champions League.
The Scotland midfielder was on the bench the last time United failed to reach the knock-out stages of the competition six years ago and is desperate to avoid more heartache.
His team are level on points with Benfica after some mixed results so far in what looked a relatively easy Group C at the beginning but risk being relegated into the Europa League by Basel.
But Fletcher, 27, knows all they need to do is avoid defeat against the third placed Swiss side, who are one point behind them, and is promising a vintage all-action display from United to guarantee they get the points to go through.
"It doesn't get much bigger than this," said Fletcher. "This club needs to qualify for the Champions League, so we know we have to get a positive result.
"They are going to come at us because they have to win the game and we're fully aware of that.
"We are under no illusions as to what we have to do. We need a positive result and we'll be going to win the game because you never know what Benfica will do in the other game.
"We fully expect them to win, but you never know, so it's important we win the match.
"If we do that we might get a little favour with Benfica not winning, in which case we win the group.
"But if not, we will finish second - the most important thing now is getting through.
"You want to be through by this stage and you want to be in pole position to win the group.
"Unfortunately, we are not in that position and so you look back to the two home draws with Basel and Benfica.
"If you don't win your home games in the Champions League then it's never going to be as easy as you'd like."
