Real promise to give United as good as they get

Vicente Del Bosque says Real Madrid will not be intimidated if Manchester United try to use strong-arm tactics against his side at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The reigning European champions hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final but with both teams able to conjure goals almost out of nothing, the tie is far from over.

And Del Bosque says his men, who won 3-2 at Old Trafford on their last visit in the quarter-final stage in 2000, can play it hard when they have to.

"We are not a team of girls. We know if we have to play hard we can do that. Football is a tough game, and if that's the way it has to be played we can mix it with the best of them," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Madrid have been criticised at home for their performances since beating United two weeks ago, losing 4-2 at Real Sociedad and drawing 1-1 with Barcelona at the weekend.

But Del Bosque and his men are expoerienced enough to brush those domestic disappointments to one side.

"The most important thing is how we feel inside and as a team we have shown the necessary mental strength and believe in ourselves to do the business," he said.

Defensive midfield duo Flavio Conceicao and Claude Makelele took the brunt of the recent criticism but Del Bosque was quick to defend the duo.

"When you have the attacking talents of Figo, Raul, Zidane and Carlos and still win, what more do I need to say," he said.

Del Bosque also disputed Alex Ferguson's claims that Real had attempted to unsettle David Beckham by starting rumours they wanted to buy the England skipper.

"If he believes the rumours have come from Madrid, he has made a beginners error," he said.

Madrid's Portuguese forward Luis Figo, who scored a superb goal in the first leg, said Real did not intend sitting on their two-goal lead.

"We have to put the scoreline out of our minds and concentrate on scoring another goal," he said.

"It will be a tough game and we will be under pressure, but we will also have stages where we will be in control and can pass the ball around."

Real will be without their key marksman Raul, forced to pull oput after an emergency appendix operation on Monday. The most lethal player on the field is now undoubtedly United's Ruud van Nistelrooy who has scored 11 goals this season, a Champions League record for one season.

Figo added: "He is one of the best players in his position. He is a top scorer and has a great record in the Champions League. Without doubt he is one of United's best players and we have to think about him."