Edwin: Ajax Success Spoilt Me

Edwin van der Sar admits he took success for granted as a young player in Holland because he was picking up so many trophies.

United’s veteran goalkeeper tasted Champions League glory as a 24-year-old with Ajax in 1995, and also won the UEFA Cup and four league titles with the Dutch club, before leaving for less successful spells with Juventus and Fulham.

Now, 13 years on from his last European triumph and nearing the end of his career, he is desperate to claim Europe’s elite club trophy once more with United.

The 37-year-old said: “I’d love to get my hands on it again. It’s great to win the Champions League once, and a lot of people will do that, but to win it twice is a big incentive.

“At Ajax I was starting to feel like it was normal to win trophies and play in finals! But then it dried out and when I was at Fulham I thought it was the end of me winning things.

“Now I’m pleased to have a chance at United and perform on the highest level and achieve again those things I managed earlier in my career.”

Van der Sar missed the 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Saturday but is set to return for the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

While domestic and European success is tantalisingly close, van der Sar has warned that the Reds cannot afford to become complacent.

"It’s shaping up nicely but we haven’t won anything yet,” he said. "Some people say our name is already on the trophy, but that’s not true – we still have a tough tie against Barcelona and then Chelsea or Liverpool.

“We can’t relax – the last month is going to be the most important of the campaign, so everybody will have to keep focusing and working hard and hopefully the rewards will come after that.”

Van der Sar was speaking at the launch of United's National Curriculum Education Programme at Old Trafford.