SIR Alex Ferguson is looking forward to crossing swords with his former assistant Walter Smith after Manchester United were drawn in the same Champions League group as Rangers.

Smith was Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford in 2004, at the end of the same season that the clubs previously met in the tournament.

Ferguson said: ‘‘Walter Smith’s already been on the phone, talking about tickets for Old Trafford! Like me, he’s really looking forward to our games against each other.

‘‘You can’t complain about that, it’s a good draw for us.

You always look at the travelling side of it and the only one that’s of any great distance is the trip to Turkey.’’ Spanish side Valencia and Turkish champions Bursaspor, making their bow in the tournament, make up the other two teams in a group United should win.

Tottenham’s first appearance in Europe’s top club competition looks like being a baptism of fire, with holders Inter Milan – managed now by Rafael Benitez – German side Werder Bremen and Dutch champions FC Twente making up Group A.

Spurs club secretary Darren Eales claimed however that Tottenham’s opponents would not be relishing being drawn against them.

Eales said: ‘‘In the game against Young Boys we had a wonderful atmosphere. In night games in Europe at White Hart Lane we could be a match for anyone. We could be one of the teams people were fearful to draw.

‘‘We’re certainly not looking too far ahead, we’re just looking to give a good account of ourselves and we’re looking at getting into the knockout stage first, that’s our first aim.’’ Chelsea’s task looks more straightforward in Group F, with Marseille, Spartak Moscow and Zilina, the Slovakian champions.

Club secretary Dave Barnard insisted the Blues were not viewing the trophy as their ‘Holy Grail’, and that the team had answered suggestion of them being an ageing squad.

Barnard said: ‘‘The guys answered all the criticism by winning the double and it looks like all those old players at the beginning of the season just got younger.

‘‘Everyone talks about the Champions League being the Holy Grail, it’s the one trophy that’s eluded us. But I think we’re geared up for it.’’ Arsenal are in Group H with Shakhtar Donetsk – meaning a return to the Emirates for Eduardo – Partizan Belgrade and Portuguese side Braga.

Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: ‘‘Shakhtar were UEFA Cup champions a couple of seasons ago, and are a team that has invested a lot and has made a lot of progress, including of course Eduardo which will be a great story for us.

‘‘He will get an incredibly warm welcome from our fans who love him and wish him nothing but the best, unless he’s playing against us.

‘‘Braga beat Celtic and Sevilla on the way through so clearly they have quality as well.’’ In Group G, Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid are drawn with AC Milan, Ajax and Auxerre, while favourites Barcelona have it easy in Group D against Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan.

Last season’s semi-finalists Lyon are in Group B against Benfica, Schalke and Hapoel Tel-Aviv, while beaten finalists Bayern Munich are in Group E against Roma, Basle and CFR Cluj.