Rio Makes Final Promise

Rio Ferdinand has promised Barcelona will face the 'real Manchester United' on 28 May at Wembley.

The Reds defender is clearly still smarting from the 2-0 Champions League final defeat to the Catalan giants in Rome and is determined that things will be different this time around.

Although appreciating the world-class array of attacking talent in Pep Guardiola's side, Ferdinand is backing his team-mates to set the record straight.

"I have never watched 2009 again," he revealed. "But matches like that are hard to forget as it is clear in your head.

"If you want to sit and think about games like that they come up quite easily. It is like bringing something up on the internet. I have not watched it but I have re-run it in my head a few times. We never played. We never got on the ball. We weren't Manchester United that day. This time we will give a better account of ourselves.

"On the way back we were sitting there thinking if only we had gone out and played and been the real Manchester United, it would have been different.

"I wouldn't mind it being the best Manchester United against the worst Barcelona. We will try and do whatever it takes to win. They always say you don't want to come off the pitch with any regrets. There were regrets that night."

Ferdinand respects Barcelona but is not in awe of the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"You watch the games and see them on TV and they have fantastic players," he continued.

"They have got three of the best in the world playing in their team if you look at the awards that were given out. But it is not just down to them. If you mark one player out of their team, you still have another 10 to contend with.

"I am sure they will be thinking the same about us. They are more experienced, they know how to win and have consistently won things over the last two or three years.

"You see that aura a little bit. We had that here. We felt in the tunnel we had the game won. But that won't happen with us. We have experienced players who have played against a lot of great teams. When we look around our own changing room, that instils you with confidence."

Rio Ferdinand was speaking to ManUtd.com, BBC Radio Manchester, Key103 and PA.