Rio Ferdinand can give no guarantees about Manchester United lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley Stadium on May 28.
But one thing the England defender can state, without any fear of contradiction, is that Manchester United will not stand beside Barcelona in the Wembley tunnel prior to kick-off and feel intimidated. It is often said football is a game played in the mind. Ferdinand knows it is true. He has emerged from the home dressing rooms at Old Trafford often enough to know there are days when he looks his opponent in the eye and knew he was going to win. Barcelona experience similar sensations at times. With Lionel Messi leading their team and Xavi and Andres Iniesta offering pretty substantial support, who wouldn't excuse the Catalans from nursing a sense of superiority?
They have been talked up as the best team in the world so often, it must be true. Indeed, earlier this season, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp suggested Barcelona were the best club side ever. However, after securing a record 19th league title and reaching the Champions League final for the third time in four years, something Barça cannot match, Ferdinand does not see why United should be the ones with an inferiority complex. ''You do see the aura a little bit,'' said Ferdinand.
''We had it here. There would be times when we felt in the tunnel we had a game won. But I can guarantee that won't happen with us. ''We have experienced players who have played against a lot of great teams throughout their careers. ''When I look around my own changing room, it instils me with confidence.''Not that Ferdinand is downplaying the abilities of Barcelona's 'Holy Trinity'. As Messi is widely acknowledged to be the best player in the world at present, and Xavi and Iniesta were the inspirations behind Spain's World Cup triumph last summer, he could hardly do that. But the 32-year-old does feel it is pointless getting hung up on three players, when there are another eight who could cause damage as well. ''You watch the games and see Barcelona on TV and they obviously have fantastic players,'' he said. ''They have got three of the best in the world if you go by the various awards. But it is not just down to them.
''If you try to mark one player out of their team, you still have another 10 to contend with. ''They are experienced and they know how to win. They have consistently collected trophies over the last two or three years. ''But I am sure they will be thinking exactly the same about us.''And, though the defeat to Barca in the 2009 Champions League final conjures up largely negative thoughts in Ferdinand's mind, in the context of the rematch, there are some positive ones. For a start, as badly as United performed, they still created opportunities, so who would argue they will fail to muster any if they actually produce a display to match their ability?
''We had opportunities that day without playing to anywhere near our maximum,'' said Ferdinand.
''It makes us think we will have chances again. We know we are capable of causing them problems.
''I am not bothered about it being a good match. I wouldn't mind it being the best Manchester United against the worst Barcelona. ''We will try and do whatever it takes to win. The biggest thing in football is to never come off the pitch with any regrets. ''There were regrets that night and I don't want to experience that again.'
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Wolves were given a £25,000 suspended fine in February 2010 after Mick McCarthy rested 10 first-team regulars for a game he did not expect to win at Old Trafford. Wolves lost 3-0 and nine of the players were promptly recalled for the next fixture, against relegation rivals Burnley, which Wolves won. A precedent having been set, Morgan said he expected Manchester United to be fined if Sir Alex Ferguson rested Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic against Blackpool, who are fighting with Wolves, Wigan and Birmingham to avoid following West Ham down.
