While Besiktas, Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow would not appear to present the most arduous challenge in themselves, the additional travelling will certainly present a test.

The difficulties have already begun, with Ferguson confirming the Red Devils will remain in London on September 12 after their Barclays Premier League encounter with Tottenham at White Hart Lane and head to Istanbul the following morning.

Moscow will be just as difficult, even if a return to the Luzhniki Stadium brings back happy memories of their penalty shoot-out triumph over Chelsea to win the competition in 2008.

On this occasion though, United must face the additional problem of an artificial surface England failed to master as they were eliminated from Euro 2008.

With the presence of Bundesliga winners Wolfsburg demanding respect as well, Ferguson has no hesitation in declaring United's draw to be a difficult one.

"We were talking about it beforehand and saying we didn't want to go to Russia because of the length of the journey - and Turkey is the same. Then we get the two of them," he moaned.

"Russian teams have improved a tremendous amount in the last few years. There has been a big financial investment and a lot of Brazilian players are there. It is on Astroturf as well so that will be hard.

"We have had experiences of Turkey in the past. It is never easy going there because the atmosphere is quite volatile.

"The last game is away to Wolfsburg, who won the German championship last year.

"The Champions League has had a tremendous amount of quality in it but this is the most difficult group of the English teams."