The Red Devils appeared to show no ill-effects last night, booking a place in the Club World Cup final at the expense of Gamba Osaka.

Yet Ryan Giggs confirmed both he and a number of his team-mates are still struggling with sleep deprivation.

It should not be much of a factor on Sunday, when the Red Devils take on Ecuador's LDU Quito for the right to be crowned world number one.

But the worry is a return journey of over 12 hours and the readjustment to Greenwich Mean Time may cause similar problems to the ones United have encountered in the Far East when they return to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.

Giggs said: "I hope it won't have a knock-on effect to our title defence. We don't know how it will affect us next Friday.

"It has been quite difficult over here. I have not slept much, four or five hours sleep a night really.

"You just have to prepare the best we you can. It is a bit of a problem. Overall the team looked fit and sharp.

"We have a squad big enough to handle the games over the Christmas period and we just hope come that game against Stoke we have got over the jet-lag."

Giggs will also hope the renewed fuss over Cristiano Ronaldo's future has died down by the time United return to England.

Although there was a 50% chance of the Red Devils landing the Spanish giants towards the end of this lunchtime's Champions League draw, there is another Portugal legend to focus on now United know Jose Mourinho is heading to Old Trafford.

Mourinho's presence should take some of the heat off Ronaldo, who Real claim they have an agreement to sign.

Giggs decided not to take the Ferguson line of 'I wouldn't sell them a virus' but he is adamant the 23-year-old is in the best place to further his career.

"All this is nothing new," said the former Wales captain.

"It has been going on for over a year now. Players get on with it.

"You want your top players at the club. I am sure that will continue to be the case. We feel he is at the best place."

With the Premier League and Champions League trophies already won, the Ballon D'Or and FIFPro world player of the year trophies collected and the FIFA prize expected to be heading his way as well next month, Ronaldo could round off a spectacular 2008 by winning on Sunday.

It is hardly a surprise Quito have made it through, even though, with the giants of Brazil and Argentina missing, there was a feeling the South American challengers could be vulnerable.

United have already started doing their homework and had a presence at Wednesday's semi-final in Tokyo when Quito eased past Mexican outfit Pachuca.

"They are a typical South American team," said Ferguson. "Quito are competitive and mobile and they can defend well.

"It won't be an easy match for us but it is a world championship final and we want to win it."

Ferguson has confirmed his intention to make changes to his starting line-up, with Wayne Rooney among those set to come in and Edwin van der Sar part of the group likely to miss out.

United must await a fitness update on Dimitar Berbatov before learning whether the Bulgarian will be involved with Ferguson admitting, defensively at least, his team must do better.

"We were a bit slow covering our defensive positions, which is possibly because we are still adjusting to the time difference," he said.

"Hopefully by Sunday we will be in better physical shape and our performance will be better. It will have to be because in my experience it is always difficult playing South American teams."