Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists they can go into their Champions League tie with Wolfsburg without any pressure.

United's squad has been ravaged by injury and Ferguson has told his youngsters to forget about expectations.

"Wolfsburg will be delighted that we have so many injuries because it's a big game for them," the boss in Germany on Monday. "My main concern is getting players back from injury. I have to look at the bigger picture and that means looking to Saturday [against Aston Villa] and future league games."

It goes without saying that the United players will be doing their utmost to win in Germany, but the quality and unpredictably of this year's European tournament means that finishing second is much less of a stumbling block than it might be in other years.

"We've qualified for the Last 16, and looking at the groups I'm not sure whether first or second really matters," said the boss. "So that is a major boost to us. If we are second, I don't know if it does matter.

"In one group you've potentially got AC Milan or Real Madrid, in another you've got Barcelona, Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan, another you have Fiorentina and Lyon, or Bordeaux, Bayern and Juventus. You get one of those teams and it doesn't really matter. They're all of a similar quality - very good teams.

"The only advantage you're giving away by finishing second is playing the home game first in the knockout round."