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MIDDLESBROUGH v MANCHESTER UNITED - WOODY UNDAUNTED BY UNITED CLASH
Jonathan Woodgate has warned Manchester United they are not unbeatable as they head into their FA Cup quarter-final showdown with Middlesbrough.
The runaway Barclays Premiership leaders will arrive at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday evening intent on repeating the 2-1 league victory they recorded there back in December.
However, England defender Woodgate is confident that, not only can his side give them a game, but knock them out of the competition.
He said: "Of course we can win the game. It is massive for us. We are going to try to win this competition.
"Obviously, we have got to do it the hard way by playing Manchester United and that is never easy, but we have a decent record against them.
"On our day, we can beat anyone and the results have shown that this season.
"It will be difficult because United are a special side. They will probably win the Premier League - and I hope they do because they are a good team and play attractive football.
"But they are not unbeatable."
Boro dumped United out of the FA Cup in the fourth round in 2002 and trounced them 4-1 in the Premiership last season as then manager Steve McClaren got the better of his former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
With his side fighting on so many fronts, Ferguson has rested key players at times this season, but even if he does so again, Woodgate admits Boro will still be up against it.
He said: "Some people are saying they will put out a weakened side because of their Champions League commitments, but will they?
"Any United side is not exactly weak, is it?"
Boro head into the tie having needed replays in each of the three previous rounds and penalties in the last two to defeat lower league opposition, but with only one defeat in their last 14 games in all competitions.
However, Saturday's goalless Premiership draw at Newcastle left them 12th in the table, seven points adrift of a top-six finish, and the FA Cup, in which they reached the semi-finals last season, looks to be their best chance of capturing European football once again.
The Premiership will remain the priority for manager Gareth Southgate and his players, but loan signing Woodgate, who will make a decision on his own future at the end of the season, admits the cup is perhaps a more realistic route to the Continent.
He said: "We still want to finish as high as we can in the league. Europe is not completely out of the question that way.
"It is going to be very difficult, but if we do not make it, it will not be for lack of trying.
"We will try to win as many games as we can. We have only been beaten once in 14 now, so that is a platform.
"But the cup gives us another chance of Europe and maybe a more realistic one as it is only three games - although we have to get past United first, and that will not be easy.
"We will give it our best shot. There is no reason we cannot do it. We are playing well, we have been resilient and we have got some good players.
"We are looking forward to it."
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