Rafael Targets Great Escape

Rafael accepts it won’t be easy for Manchester United to overcome Olympiacos in the Champions League, though the Brazilian knows that “anything is possible” on European nights at Old Trafford.

The Reds are 2-0 down from the first leg in Piraeus and must win by at least three clear goals to qualify for the quarter-finals. Although the odds are stacked against his team-mates, Rafa is confident of sealing progress to the last eight.

In an exclusive interview with United Review, the matchday programme at Old Trafford, the Brazilian explains why the fans’ support will be key: “Of course everybody knows it will be hard after the first result but it is definitely not impossible. We just need to play differently to how we did in the first game and be more adventurous.

“We are playing at Old Trafford and, with our supporters behind us, anything is possible. We just need to work hard and attack as often as possible.

“Since I arrived at Old Trafford, the fans have always given us energy and we seem to score a lot of early goals in big games. I remember the match against Bayern Munich [in 2010] when we scored two early goals and then went 3-0 up before half-time.

“That's what we should do tonight, we should play like we did in that first half. We can draw on that experience. I remember I got sent off and, of course, I learned a lot from it. We also learned a lot from that match as a team.”

Having been involved in some massive European nights, most notably last season’s home match with Real Madrid, Rafael knows what part the United fans can play and expects them to have an impact at Old Trafford.

“First of all, I will never forget that game," the right-back explains. "When Nani was sent off, the supporters were crazy good and I had never seen anything like that before. It was the best atmosphere I have ever played in. It showed exactly what they can do. They can push you on and help the team going forward.

“I expect them to do it again and their noise could intimidate Olympiacos. I remember Jose Mourinho going back to the bench when they sang: ‘Sit down, Mourinho’. So if Mourinho was intimidated by our fans, imagine how the Olympiacos players might react!”

Having been involved in some massive European nights, most notably last season’s home match with Real Madrid, Rafael knows what part the United fans can play and expects them to have an impact at Old Trafford.

“First of all, I will never forget that game," the right-back explains. "When Nani was sent off, the supporters were crazy good and I had never seen anything like that before. It was the best atmosphere I have ever played in. It showed exactly what they can do. They can push you on and help the team going forward.

“I expect them to do it again and their noise could intimidate Olympiacos. I remember Jose Mourinho going back to the bench when they sang: ‘Sit down, Mourinho’. So if Mourinho was intimidated by our fans, imagine how the Olympiacos players might react!”