Deportivo in vow to fight to the finish

Javier Irureta, the Deportivo La Coruña coach, yesterday warned Manchester United to be prepared for a robust challenge. Ahead of tomorrow's match, he vowed that his players would battle to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup "until they have hit us on the head and left us for dead".

A 2-0 setback in the first leg has done little to persuade Irureta that the quarter-final tie is over, and he strongly believes Deportivo can go to Old Trafford and win convincingly. They claimed a 3-2 win there in the opening group phase of this season's Champions League, on a night which saw United's goalkeeper Fabien Barthez give away two goals. "I am continuing with the same argument I have used over the last few days; it is hard but in football anything is possible," Irureta said. "Of course we have to play well, we are not playing against anyone, it is Manchester United. We should have no problems about motivation, though."

Irureta has reminded his charges of their privileged position and said: "I never had the chance to play at Old Trafford and I had a long and successful career as a player. I want us to go out and score goals. If Manchester score one, then we have to score three, but if they don't score, two goals will take us to extra time. We will keep on trying until they have hit us on the head and left us for dead."

Deportivo, already winners of the Spanish Cup and chasing both the European Cup and Spanish League title for a historic treble, will take all their first-team squad with them to Manchester, despite injury doubts over three key players.

The Brazilian midfielder Mauro Silva was forced off after just 20 minutes in Saturday's 5-0 home win over Real Mallorca with a thigh strain, while his fellow midfielder Sergio finished the match with a similar injury. The central defender Cesar, who lasted only half of the Mallorca game, is also a doubt for the second leg. "I am taking a squad of 22 because there are some players affected by injury, and I still don't know if they will be fit," Irureta said after training yesterday. "It is also good for the squad to travel together, as a group."

United secured an impressive away victory in the first leg with goals from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, the English champions will be without Roy Keane, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg, while an ankle injury to Beckham late in the game has cast doubt over the England captain's fitness. United will also be without the midfielder Paul Scholes, who is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg.