Raul and his Schalke teammates arrive at Old Trafford hoping to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg and Ferguson has been full of praise for the Spaniard in the build up for the game.
“Raul is the Champions League’s top scorer with 71 goals and an iconic figure in European football and I will enjoy watching him at Old Trafford,” Ferguson told the club’s official website.
“I remember describing Raul as the best player in the world after admiring two goals he scored against us for Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal of 2003 at the Bernabeu.”
The Scot also said he believes the United fans will give Raul the respect he deserves and recalls the reception which was afforded to retired Brazilian striker Ronaldo in the home leg of the 2003 match against Real Madrid.
“Although we lost on aggregate, it did not prevent our fans acknowledging Ronaldo’s hat-trick with a standing ovation when he was substituted,” he said.
After the first leg in German in which Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney scored, United hold the advantage and are clear favorites to advance to the final at Wembley on May 28.
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Sir Alex Ferguson heralds Schalke’s Raul as ‘an iconic figure in European football’