Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson trusts his young players to steal the show against Barcelona

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United

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Ahead of the showdown at Wembley, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that his players have got what it takes to steal the show from favourites Barcelona and land a third Champions League title.

The Red Devils boss has called for his side not to worry too much about the Spanish giants and their scintillating form but to focus on their own game to snatch the coveted trophy.

Ferguson is confident that United’s young offensive line will be the key against Barcelona as the Red Devils seek to avenge their 2-0 defeat in the Champions League final in Rome two years ago.

“If you see the kind of players we have, you expect them to make an impact,” he told The Guardian.

“Rooney’s form has been good for the last two to three months, Valencia and Park are fresh, while Hernandez has been a breath of fresh air to everyone

“We have fresh players and that’s important.”

Ferguson believes that Pep Guardiola’s men – who have snatched a 21st La Liga crown – are favourites to win the final and is aware of their potential threat especially with Lionel Messi’s input in their game.

He added: “Barcelona deserve to be favourites. Their form has been fantastic this season.

“They are a terrific side. We’ll have to pay attention to Messi and all their great players.

“They will try to get a passing routine in the middle of the pitch and keep the ball from us.

“The danger is that we pay them too much attention and that’s why I make the point that we have to pay attention to our own game.

“We’ve got to make our impact on the match. We have enough players in the squad to do that.

The Scot will rest several key players against Blackpool in their final game of the Premier League season while Guardiola has rested eight players – including Messi – for Barcelona’s trip to Malaga.

“It’s harder to pick the team for the Barcelona game because you are leaving great players out. The team that plays on Sunday will be all right”

Ferguson also admitted that he tried to sign Guardiola as a player ten years ago when the former midfielder was made available before moving to Brescia, and the United boss spoke in glowing terms of his Barcelona counterpart’s ability both as a player and a coach.

He said: “I spoke to his agent when he left Barcelona and moved to Italy.

“We were a bit interested in him because he was a good footballer, good passer of the ball.

“He has created a different philosophy for Barcelona. I think the Cruyff era laid the foundation for the width they used in their game and using the full size of the pitch.

“If you look at their midfield players over the last 20 years they have all been small.

“What has changed is the pressing and the areas in which they press the ball. That is what Guardiola has brought to the team.”

Manchester United could add a third European Cup triumph to their tally by winning at Wembley, the scene of their first European title in 1968, where Sir Matt Busby’s team famously beat Benfica 4-1 in the final.

“The great thing about the last time Manchester United were at Wembley was that it completed Sir Matt’s rebuilding of the team and everyone wanted him to win it,” he added.

“The whole country was behind him and I am not sure the whole country is behind us now.”