Owen Doesn't Fear Barca

Michael Owen insists Barcelona hold no fears for United as the Reds prepare to kick-off another Champions League campaign next week.

The 3-1 defeat at Wembley in May was a humbling experience for a side that had won the domestic title by nine points and the Catalan giants are strong favourites with the bookmakers to retain the trophy in Munich next year.

Owen, who was an unused substitute for the final, is raring to go ahead of the trip to Benfica as he awaits his first involvement of the new campaign.

"If we played Barcelona again in the final, then we'd have to do something differently because they obviously outplayed us on the night," he explained to Inside United, the official club magazine.

"Then again, I don't think there's any shame in losing to a team like that. We're not ashamed of how we played at Wembley but, if we played them again, then I do think we'd have to look at adopting a slightly different approach.

"On that one night's evidence, you'd have to say that there was a gap between the two sides because they beat us quite convincingly. But that was a one-off game. We wouldn't be frightened of playing them again, that's for sure."

Owen, who has plenty of experience in Europe, is hoping to play his part in the Champions League programme as United aim to top Group C, which kicks off on September 14.

"I can't wait," he enthused. "The beauty of playing for a club like Manchester United is that you have a good chance of winning every competition you take part in.

"You're expected to win as well, which is good pressure to have placed on you. This year will be no different.

"We have to forget what happened last year - and we would have done that even if we'd beaten Barcelona - and start again. We have some great memories from last year's competition, even though it ended disappointingly.

"Now we start again and the aim is to win the competition."