Sir Alex Ferguson: We can handle plastic pitch

Sir Alex Ferguson is not worried that Manchester United will have to play on a plastic pitch when they face CSKA Moscow in the Luzhniki Stadium tomorrow.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko complained of strained muscles in his leg when he played at the ground for Russia against Germany nine days ago.

"It seems I have lost the habit of playing on synthetics - the pains in my muscles told me that after the match," said the former Spartak Moscow forward.

But United boss Ferguson is sure that his team will adapt to the surface as they look to get the victory which will put them within touching distance of the last 16 in the Champions League.

He said: "CSKA are a young side who know what they are doing and have one win behind them already.

"Also, their home advantage means more than usual because they play on an artificial plastic surface. I don't have a problem with that, though, because we can cope and I am looking to our back-to-back games against CSKA to take us to 10 points and a place in the knockout stages."

The stadium was the scene of United's Champions League triumph over Chelsea last year, although on that occasion the match was on grass.