With Somerset having qualified for the Champions League in India as losing finalists in the domestic Twenty20 Cup, he admitted that his decision to tour abroad for the first time in three years was a risk.
The Americans are off this summer, having qualified automatically for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball in Spain by winning Olympic gold.
However, with United having already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, Ferguson's biggest concern is the Premier League encounter with Villa.
With both teams having already qualified for the knockout stages and large areas of seats at the Estadio do Dragao left empty, the atmosphere was somewhat muted throughout.
With Lech Poznan drawing with Juventus in Wednesday's other Group A tie, City find themselves going to Turin for the final match of the pool having already qualified.
The Australian-born 37-year-old qualified as a British citizen in 2005 having played county cricket with Essex and Lancashire for more than 10 years.
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So I'm not faulting the astronauts for creating, having a special feeling about their qualifications because they are highly qualified, and they are highly competent.
Having already qualified, Iran made nine changes to their side, but they still proved far too classy for their opponents, who finished the group bottom and without a win or goal to their name.
The Australians, who like South Korea qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, are seeking a first title after having joined the Asian federation from Oceania in early 2006.
Meanwhile, the United States qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a 27-6 victory over Uruguay in Fort Lauderdale, having won the first leg 27-22 in Montevideo a week ago.
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