Manchester United drawing Real Madrid a tie to savour and the very point of the Champions League This time, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will be on opposite sides. And the preening Portuguese will receive a hero's welcome on his return to his old stamping ground. Never mind that this time he will be wearing white, Ronaldo's name will be sung to the rafters. It may seem, as they boast not just the world's second best player, but his distinguished team-mates like Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas and Luca Modric, among their number, that United have pulled the toughest name out of the hat. But, since they were precluded from drawing Arsenal and Galatasaray, Celtic apart, this is probably the tie their manager Alex Ferguson would have wished for. Sure, Madrid and their clever coach represent some hurdle. But at least they aren't German (well, Mesut Ozil apart). With the German domestic game flying, Ferguson will be happy to let others deal with Schalke, Munich and Dortmund. And hope only to face them later. Still, he will know his team will need to improve defensively if they are to make the quarter final. Too often this season they have been obliged to come from behind. Which may work as a tactic against Aston Villa or Southampton, but is unlikely to succeed against opponents as well-drilled as this. He will feel, however, that if Robin van Persie is fit, he will always have a chance. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the tie is the presence of Mourinho. Already hinting that he will leave Madrid at the end of the season, this will serve as something of an indication about his future job prospects. There are those within Old Trafford - Bobby Charlton among them - who feel the Portuguese's abrasive approach is not appropriate for the club. If Mourinho arrives in Manchester for this game exuding warmth and charm, glad-handing all he meets and refusing any hint of the kind of malicious mind game of which he has become the master, then we will get hint in which direction his true ambition lies.