Leverkusen players will not be in awe of Manchester United, says Hyypia

The former Liverpool defender takes his side to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening for the opening group game in the Champions League

Bayer Leverkusen coach Sami Hypia insists his players will not stand in awe of Manchester United in their opening Champions League group fixture on Tuesday.

This season's competition will be the first for the former Liverpool defender, as well as his opposite number David Moyes, as the German club and United look to navigate their way out of a group which also consists of Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Sociedad.

"Manchester is a great team. They have won everything in the past 10 years," Hyypia told Express.

"But I won’t do that [give up on the game before it begins]. Otherwise we could send our Under-19s.

"We should not stand in awe. I hope that my players don't only want to look around the tradition-rich ground and line up for Wayne Rooney's autograph."

Hyypia also insists his players will not be overwhelmed by the atmosphere at Old Trafford.

"The players won’t watch the stands wide-eyed when warming up," he told Kicker. "They know this atmosphere. The stadium in Dortmund is bigger.

"I won't get the warmest welcome [at Old Trafford], I guess."