Manchester United and Roma will meet again in the last eight of the Champions League.

The teams - who have played in the competition already this season and also met last year - will do battle again over two legs next month, with the second leg at Old Trafford.

The winners of the tie will meet either Barcelona or Schalke in the last four.

United assistant boss Carlos Queiroz has warned his players Roma are a much better team than the one thrashed 7-1 at Old Trafford last season.

He said: "We should know them very well. But what is our strength is also our weakness.

"Roma know us very well after they played against us so many times, especially after they way we beat them last season.

"I'm sure it will be a difficult game as all games are at this stage.

"I think we have a good chance. We know we can beat them.

"We need to be ready to play against a team that is improving a lot.

"This Roma team is much much better compared with the team we played some months ago.''

Queiroz was pleased to have avoided an English team, especially Liverpool, who United face in the Premier League shortly before the quarter-finals.

"Imagine if the draw was against Liverpool for instance," he said.

"To play Liverpool three times in 15 days is nothing special. There is a lot of emotion and a lot of passion of course.

"But from my perspective and the club's perspective, to play against teams abroad is more what you expect when you talk about the Champions League."

United club secretary Ken Ramsden told Sky Sports News: "That's a good draw, I think.

"As a fan, I'm glad we're not playing an English team because it loses that flavour of a continental game.

"We're away first, which will please the manager, I'm sure.

"All in all, a good day, I think."

Asked about the prospect of a repeat of last season's 8-3 aggregate thrashing of the Italians, Ramsden said: "It would be nice.

"We have a good record against them so there's no reason why we should be afraid."

He added: "We're playing well but every team in the quarter-finals says the same thing."

After the problems United faced in Rome last season when there were skirmishes between supporters and police, Ramsden believes December's group-phase meeting proved a tie between the sides could pass off largely trouble-free.

"We had a problem two years ago (last season) as is well known, but this year is nowhere near such a problem," he said.

"The fans learned a little bit. I think the Roman authorities learned a lot.

"If the fans follow the advice, they're less likely to have problems."

Queiroz agreed, saying: "I hope this time after the game, it is only time to celebrate a football game and nothing more.

"It will be sad if, after the third visit of our club to Rome, that some of these incidents happen again.

"There's no excuse for that if that happens again."

Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni said: "We want revenge.

"The trip to Old Trafford last season was a nightmare. But this year we are different, we have more experience, we are much improved."

He added: "In the past month we have won a lot of games, including the two ties against Madrid.

"We have more confidence, more experience and we are mentally stronger."

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