Once again Manchester welcomed an Italian football team yesterday with intrigue and uncertainty over the fitness of one of its key components.
For Ronaldo read Zinedine Zidane, two men whose paths crossed so significantly in the World Cup final and whose wellbeing has so influenced the build-up to United's Champions League campaign.
The health of Zidane, who wore a heavy strapping to the knee as Juve practised at Old Trafford last night, has taken on added significance.
Unlike Ronaldo and Internazionale, there has been no subterfuge involving the Frenchman's availability tonight. Zidane plays but, as in Ronaldo's case, with conflicting reports about the seriousness of his problem.
"I saw him in training yesterday, there is absolutely no problem," said the Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti before last night's work-out. "He was very good and that is important. Our morale rises with his presence." The words from Zidane were less encouraging. "There is no problem with me playing now," he said. "I'm just about fit. The only thing is I still feel pain when I strike the ball. But I will play through the pain. I don't know how long I'll last. The important thing is that I start." Honesty, or some more of those Italian tricks that Alex Ferguson delighted in airing before the Inter games? Ancelotti would not respond to those Ferguson claims that Italians are notoriously deceitful opponents at this level. "If you want me to get into an argument, you will still be here waiting tomorrow morning," he said.
This is an Italian coach who prefers to let his team do the talking and, unlike United's previous opponents, there is no lack of confidence or cohesion in the Juve camp. Asked what result he would settle for tonight, Ancelotti's reply was straight-faced and instant: "Una vittoria."
