We’ve got lots of players of good temperament.”Ferguson is cautiously confident that his revamped team are better equipped for Europe than in recent years. Yet he acknowledged that a “question mark” remains over their ability to adapt tactically to Continental opponents: “In the past we’ve failed in that department.”This glorified training exercise was no guide to their prospects. “They’re a very powerful side but there’s plenty in our favour. Such wrath as they could muster was reserved for the Leeds manager, Howard Wilkinson.In seasons past, Manchester United may have been seduced into believing that if they could subdue the Leeds legions, then becalming Champions’ League venues ought to be within their compass. Alex Ferguson, chastened by the failures of Barcelona and Gothenberg, will disabuse his men of such notions.”It’ll be different on Wednesday, make no mistake about that,” the United manager said, looking forward to the visit to the holders, Juventus. After all, when he last struck such a pose before Leeds’ most partisan followers, they were his adoring public.
Faced by football’s most famous erection, the upturned Cantona collar, their mood was more resigned than riotous. Coventry: Jess, Whelan.Man of the match: Juninho.Attendance: 29,811..

Eric Cantona stood before the Elland Road Kop, up close and personal, savouring the final goal in a victory as emphatic as that recorded by the “other” Old Trafford team at Lord’s. It was not cricket, and on another day the Manchester United captain’s action might have been construed as dangerously provocative. Substitutes not used: Hall, Richardson, Filan (gk).Referee: G Barber (Warwick).Bookings: Middlesbrough: Whyte, Emerson, Ravanelli. Substitues not used: Moore, Hendrie, Stamp, Branco, Roberts (gk).Coventry City (3-1-4-2): Ogrizovic; Shaw, Burrows, Williams; Borrows; Telfer, Jess (Strachan, 60), McAllister, Salako; N Whelan (Ducros, 71), Dublin. Emerson, armed by Mustoe and egged on by Barmby, continually pulled them apart – and Ravanelli and Juninho made them pay.Goals: Ravanelli (3) 1-0; Juninho (28) 2-0; Ravanelli (73) 3-0; Juninho (80) 4-0.Middlesbrough (5-3-2): Miller; Cox, Whyte, Vickers, P Whelan, Fleming; Emerson, Mustoe, Juninho; Barmby, Ravanelli. He is anonymous because of his efficiency, quietly winning tackles and quickly distributing the ball.While Salako sparkled down the left, Coventry only showed cohesion when Gordon Strachan replaced a disappointing Eion Jess on the hour.Up front, Noel Whelan had a goal disallowed for offside but neither he nor Dion Dublin looked likely to produce anything else to beat Alan Miller, and this against a defence which will be undone by potent strike forces.So pity Coventry’s poor back three. Wayne Collins, pounds 600,000 from Crewe, reminds the manager of Paul Ince, while Andy Booth’s strength and work rate will disturb Premiership rearguards.”It will get better,” Pleat insisted before sending a coded barb to past personnel “They are young players who will learn.

In the 70th minute Dennis Bergkamp broke left and picked out Merson with a cross that Merson headed past Michael Oakes, who is performing well as a deputy for the injured Mark Bosnich.Until then there had been plenty to admire in Villa’s enterprising football, particularly the ease with which they switch positions and responsibility.Granted the initiative by Arsenal, they survived a scare when Merson’s nudge against the crossbar rebounded on to the goal-line. In this instance, certainly, the referee was spot on with his judgement, television replays showing that the ball had not crossed the line.The protest that Milosevic had strayed offside before wrong-footing John Lukic to put Villa ahead in the 39th minute was, as television suggested, probably more legitimate.Either way, it will be interesting to see what the Football Association come up with in an attempt to eradicate these thorny issues.Milosevic’s second was down to bad defending. A 28-year-old from Oxford, Saturday was his 185th League game for Middlesbrough. They rarely could.Last season, Juninho’s weakness was his wayward finishing. On Saturday he scored twice: the first a precise pass from 15 yards; the second a composed tap-in having baffled Steve Ogrizovic with a couple of samba- style shimmies.Robbie Mustoe is the unknown in a glittering midfield. The Brazilian was at the heart of Middlesbrough’s rampaging attacks, using his awesome strength to break Coventry down and then his pace to surge forward. His passing was perceptive and he tackled back – a harsh challenge on John Salako earned him a first-half booking.
Alongside was Juninho, playing what his manager called “his best game of the season”.