Real try to gloss over Raul absence

Holders Real Madrid are doing their best to downplay the loss of star striker Raul for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Spanish international Raul scored twice in Real's first leg 3-1 win at the Bernabeu two weeks ago but was ruled out Monday following an emergency operation for appendicitis.

After the April 8 reversal in Spain, United boss Sir Alex Fergsuon said: "Real have bought great players in Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but for me the best player in the world at the moment is Raul."

"Zidane and Ronaldo are great players but we can handle them."

"Raul, though, is very difficult to play against. I only hope he has gone off travelling or else we have to find some way of stopping him coming in the country."

The Scot may have got his wish but Real boss Vincente Del Bosque did his best to make light of Raul's enforced absence.

"It's a surprise for sure, but we are all professionals and not going to start crying," Del Bosque insisted.

"Raul's absence is a setback. He's a player who can add something in any situation, but we've got a strong squad and can cover for him."

And Real captain Fernando Hierro even suggested that the 25-year-old goalscorer's injury would inspire the Spanish giants.

"We'll be playing for him now. It's a pity he'll be out but that's life. As a professional there are always situations you can't control," Hierro said.

The most likely replacement for the man, who has scored nine goals in the Champions League this season and 43 in his career, is Spanish international Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez.

Since beating United, Real have lost 4-2 to Real Sociedad and drawn 1-1 with Barcelona in La Liga.

But Hierro said domestic form would be an irrelevance on Wednesday.

"The last two games will not have an influence. This team isn't affected by what's happened."

"The semi-final of the Champions League is what we are playing for now and we will be expecting a good result."

And Hierro insisted Real would not try to protect the lead Raul's double and Luis Figo's goal had given them in Spain.

"We're not thinking about defeat or a draw," said Hierro, who nevertheless added his side were braced for a tough encounter.

"I'm sure we are going to suffer in Manchester and it's going to be 90 long minutes."

"We don't expect United to be come at us as timidly as they did at the Bernabeu."

Oscar Minambres, Figo's deputy on the left wing, is still recovering from a sprained left ankle and his likely absence increases the chance of former England midfielder Steve McManaman being on the bench.

Earlier Raul played his part in the build-up to the game by adding his voice to those saying United talisman and England captain David Beckham was on his way to Real.

"I think I addressed that (Beckham rumours) very well when I said it only came out when the draw was made for the quarter-finals," said Ferguson in a sharp response.

That United still have a chance in the tie was down to Ruud van Nistelrooy's away goal and the Dutch striker warmed up for Wednesday's match by scoring in last weekend's 3-1 league win over Blackburn.

But Paul Scholes, who scored twice in that match, and fellow England international Gary Neville will both miss the second leg through suspension.

However, United's Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron should be fit after sustaining a knee ligament injury last month.