Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said he is happy after Thursday's Champions League group stage draw.

United, who downed Chelsea in Moscow last May to lift their third European crown, were drawn in Group E alongside Spain's Villarreal, British rivals Celtic and Aalborg from Denmark.

The Red Devils faced Scottish champions Celtic at the same phase two years ago, winning at Old Trafford but losing to a trademark Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick in Glasgow, and another return to his birthplace is just one of the short away days Ferguson is looking forward to.

"We've had Celtic and Villarreal before, but Aalborg is a new one," Ferguson told uefa.com after the draw.

"The bonus for us is there's not much travelling to do. We're satisfied with the group and we hope to get the ten points to see us qualify.

"It's always nice to go to my home city and being drawn against Celtic adds a bit of spice to the group."

Ferguson's muted optimism regarding qualification was echoed by Villarreal's Robert Pires, with the mercurial midfielder believing that Group E's top slot is already a foregone conclusion.

"The rest of us will be fighting it out to finish second behind United," explained the former Arsenal favourite.

"However, it would be very dangerous to assume we're favourites to do that. If we start thinking that way then we'll be out of the tournament.

‘We must respect every team in our group - only by doing that will we have a chance of going through. First place already has an owner and we must scrap it out for what's left.

"Maybe people are thinking that Villarreal are favourites but we can't think that way. We have to be careful."

Despite Group E's quality, Celtic defender Gary Caldwell was looking forward to pitting his wits against some of Europe's finest.

"It's another challenge for us having qualified for the knockout stage for the last two seasons and, with the draw we've been given, I think we can qualify again.

"We played United two seasons ago and lost the first game at Old Trafford before winning famously at home and going through. We know them well and we look forward to those games. We know how difficult Villarreal will be having played Barcelona last season.

"Aalborg are a bit of an unknown quantity but any team that qualifies for the group stage has to be respected.'

Meanwhile Aalborg goalkeeper Karim Zaza was in upbeat mood despite there seemingly being little chance of his team progressing.

"IIn drawing Manchester United, we have got one of the really great clubs, a team I have always dreamt of playing against. Villarreal are a technically superb team, while Celtic must be expected to try and get through with their physical skills. It is kind of a mixed draw, but they are all strong sides, of course," he said.

Group E's action will get underway on Wednesday September 17 with United hosting Villarreal and Aalborg travelling to Celtic.

Group A

Chelsea

Roma

Bordeaux

CFR Cluj

Group B

Internazionale

Werder Bremen

Panathinaikos

Anorthosis Famagusta

Group C

Barcelona

Sporting Lisbon

Basle

Shakhtar Donetsk

Group D

Liverpool

PSV Eindhoven

Marseille

Atletico Madrid

Group E

Manchester United

Villarreal

Celtic

AaB

Group F

Lyon

Bayern Munich

Steaua Bucharest

Fiorentina

Group G

Arsenal

Porto

Fenerbahce

Dynamo Kiev

Group H

Real Madrid

Juventus

Zenit St Petersburg

BATE Borisov