United are England's best now - Del Horno

Asier Del Horno claims Manchester United have overtaken Chelsea as England's top team because Jose Mourinho tinkered with his tactical formation.

Del Horno spent a season at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premiership title before being sold to Valencia last summer.

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The Spanish left back fell out of favour with Mourinho after being sent off for a lunging tackle on Lionel Messi in the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in February 2006.

He returns for the Champions League quarter-final clash and admits the prospect of facing the Blues holds no fear for a team who have already knocked out Italian league leaders Inter Milan.

He believes Mourinho's efforts to accommodate Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko with a midfield diamond has robbedcan beat them in the return game in the Mestalla."

Valencia's Fernando Morientes understands the frustration of Shevchenko and Ballack as they struggle in the Premiership because he suffered similarly at Liverpool.

Morientes, 30, will not play at Stamford Bridge after dislocating his shoulder playing for Spain but hopes to be fit for next week's second leg.

The former Real Madrid striker said: "It is hard to watch players like Ballack and Shevchenko having such a bad time as they are at the moment.

"When you try to adapt to a style of football like in the Premiership and you don't master it, it makes you very upset."

Morientes scored eight goals in 18 months at Anfield but has rekindled his career at the Mestalla playing up front alongside Chelsea target David Villa.