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CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS? . . . Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney (left) shares a joke with his teammate Danny Welbeck (centre) during a training session in Manchester yesterday ahead of tonight’s Uefa Champions League match against Shaktar Donetsk. — AFP

LONDON. — Manchester United will once again look to the Champions League soccer for distraction from their domestic woes when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in their concluding group-phase game tonight. Consecutive home defeats by Everton and Newcastle United have left the defending champions 13 points behind leaders Arsenal in the English Premier League and they are seven points below the Champions League places.

Manager David Moyes has had to face a barrage of questions about his ability to turn the situation around, but in European competition he has found solace.

United are unbeaten in the Champions League this season and secured a place in the knock-out rounds with a superb 5-0 victory away to Bayer Leverkusen in their last outing.

They can secure top spot in Group A, and with it an advantageous draw for the last 16, if they avoid defeat against Shakhtar, and Moyes has called on his players to finish the job.

“It’s important we give ourselves every chance of progressing even further in the Champions League by finishing top,” he said.

“It won’t make it easier, but it will give us a little bit of an advantage by having the second game at home (in the last 16).

“We will do everything we can to be top and, as well as that, we’re unbeaten in the group and want to stay unbeaten if we can make that happen.”

Moyes made seven changes for Saturday’s l-0 loss to Newcastle – some enforced – and with a place in the round of 16 already secure, he suggested that he could shuffle his pack again.

Asked if he might rotate his squad for the visit of the Ukrainian champions, he replied: “We have qualified, so it gives me a chance to have a look at that.”

Moyes will have Wayne Rooney available again after he missed the loss to Newcastle through suspension, while Marouane Fellaini is in contention after he was suspended for the trip to Leverkusen.

“It is important to get through with a game to spare but we realise there is still a job to do,” said United defender Chris Smalling. We want to finish in that top spot, so we will still be focused going into the match against Shakhtar.”

Shakhtar approach the game in second place in the group, three points behind United and a point above third-place Leverkusen. — AFP.