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MANCHESTER: Manchester United's former England striker Michael Owen said on Monday that he was keen to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday.
United go into the quarter-final first leg match against Carlo Ancelotti's side anxious to end a dreadful run of results at Stamford Bridge.
They have not won in 10 games at the ground - losing 2-1 this season - but Owen believes their luck could be about to change.
Owen said: “Since I've been at the club the games at Stamford Bridge have been odd. We don't get outplayed there, that's for sure.
“Unfortunately, we haven't had many good results, though. I'm sure our luck will change at some point.
“In the league last month we were 1-0 up and put on one of the finest displays of football Stamford Bridge has probably seen from a visiting team. I don't think many teams go to Chelsea and play like that.
“Then they got back into the game from nothing, really. Maybe we were a little guilty of contributing to our own downfall but we won't let that happen again.”
Owen is pleased the second leg is at home with the winners facing either Inter Milan or Schalke in the last four.
He added: “We prepare for every game in the exact same way - we don't take any game more seriously or less seriously than any other.
“The way we train, the way we travel, the way we recover, it's all the same. I don't think it will feel much different.
“We hope playing the second leg at Old Trafford will prove decisive. We also know that whoever progresses to the semi-final will get the same advantage there, so that's an added incentive.
“From that point of view, the draw's been kind to us. But it is going to be difficult to get past Chelsea over two legs.”
Owen also said he was hoping for a new deal when his contract expires in the summer.
But the 31-year-old, who has 13 goals to his credit from 37 appearances, admitted he was very much in the dark regarding manager Sir Alex Ferguson's thoughts.
“I am not sure about my future yet - my contract expires at the end of this season,” Owen told the club's website.
“I've made no secret that, in an ideal world, I would extend my stay. I would love to play here for longer but I will just wait and see what the club say. We've not held any talks yet.”
