Daunting draw of Dortmund

Glenn Moore absorbs the lessons of United's perilous progress in Europe

Sixteen days to go, 16 days in which Alex Ferguson must keep his players healthy in body and mind, 16 days for Anglo-German police and football authorities to plan for Manchester United's trip to Dortmund.

By the time United fly to Germany on 8 April, the day before the first leg of their European Champions' Cup semi-final with Borussia Dortmund, nothing will have been left to chance. While Ferguson is busy debriefing the two observers who watched the German champions win in Auxerre on Wednesday the club's officials will be absorbing the lessons of the same night's problems in Oporto.

Ferguson has the easier task; Dortmund may be formidable opponents but he is far better placed to shape events on the pitch than the club are off it. They did not do much wrong in Oporto yet their supporters ended up being shot at with plastic bullets by police. This was bad enough but the prospects for Dortmund are far more worrying.

The problems in Portugal, though very distressing for those involved, were limited by two factors, neither of which will apply in Germany. On Wednesday, with United 4-0 up from the first leg, home demand for tickets was muted which meant there was plenty of room in the Estadio Das Antas to accommodate fans with tickets in the wrong end, forged tickets, or none at all.

The other difference is more serious. The problems on Wednesday were with the police, not Portuguese fans. As might be expected in a town with long-standing English connections - through the port trade - most Oporto residents were in welcoming mood.

Dortmund will be different. The historical enmity is an obvious concern, as is the likelihood that the match will attract the attention of Germany's violent neo-Nazi movement. It is inevitable that some United supporters will be provoked or attacked. Some, their bravado fuelled by Dortmund's famously strong lager, may retaliate.

On the plus side the Westfalenstadion is far superior to Porto's dated and dangerous concrete bowl; the German police are less likely to be panicked by the sight and sound of United's loud and beery travelling support; and cross-border police intelligence will be far more co-ordinated. Good policing, combined with reasonable restraint from United fans, should ensure incidents are limited.

The match itself should engage anyone's attention with the atmosphere sure to be electric. The ground is very "English" in style with no running track and highly banked, and recently extended, stands. Dortmund are good but not unbeatable, especially with Matthias Sammer out. Against Auxerre they looked defensively vulnerable in the air but the attacking movement of Karlheinz Riedle and Stephane Chapuisat was excellent.

Success for United will lead to an emotional Munich final and earnings from the competition of close to pounds 10m. With ancillary sales and gate receipts, income has reached that figure already. "We have never had trouble spending money in the past," said Martin Edwards, the club's chairman and chief executive. "It is all ploughed back into the club, into the stadium, the players or some other aspect."

Edwards saw the 1968 European Cup-winning side and, at present, he thinks comparisons are premature. "It is easy to get carried away after a good result in Europe," he said. "The thing about this team is that a lot of the players have come up together and they are still maturing. Nights like Wednesday are good for their long-term experience.

"You can't beat actually playing in Europe. Since 1991 we have not been that successful in Europe but the 'foreigner' rule [limiting the number of non-English players to five] was completely against us. We were not stayIng in competitions long enough to build up the experience."

Edwards added: "We have played eight games so far and you can see the players getting better; they are learning. This will benefit them in the long run. Whether we are good enough to win the cup at the moment I am not sure but all the time we are banking up knowledge."

He was especially pleased with the players' discipline. "They really wanted not to lose the game and not give a goal away. We have done really well away this season after going a long time without winning away. Everyone was raving about Porto not so long ago and we have matched them on their territory. It is hard to compare the present and 1968 teams as the game has changed but, though we are not there yet, we are getting there. If we win it then we can shout about it."