ALEX Ferguson expects tonight's Champions League final to be the best for a decade. It will have to go some, given Liverpool's famous comeback triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul only came in 2005.

But Manchester United against Barcelona certainly has all the ingredients to provide a Wembley classic, with the winner joining Bayern Munich and Ajax on four victories in European club football's greatest stage.

“Many people would agree it is the final of the decade,” said Ferguson. “The success of both teams in the last decade has been enormous. “The attraction of two great teams with great history is obvious. It is an appealing final in terms of what could happen in the game. “There could be a lot of goals, there could be a lot of excitement and there will be a lot of good football, I am sure of that. “It is set up. The platform is there. Hopefully it turns out that way.”

As Ferguson's likely starting line-up has been touted for three weeks now, there is a predictability about United that is rarely associated with their combative manager. A surprise or two can be expect- United boss seeks revenge for Rome ed therefore, as Ferguson attempts to get the better of Pep Guardiola, a man he came close to signing during his early days at Old Trafford.

“I was quite interested in Guardiola at one time,” said Ferguson. “I spoke to his agent when he left Barcelona but he decided to go to Italy.

“Maybe it was a moment lost because I admired him. He was a fantastic passer of the ball.” Such a disciple of football history, Ferguson declined an opportunity to talk about the emotions of a game between two clubs who both conquered Europe for the first time at Wembley.

One senses, more than most occasions, the United boss is focused. Focused on making amends for one that got away in 2009.

“Wembley is still a symbol,” he said. “You know when you come here it is for a big reason. There is none bigger than this. “According to the bookmakers we are underdogs. That doesn't really matter to us to be honest. “Anybody going into a game of this nature doesn't care what the betting is or what the experts say because of your preparation and what the players can add to what we are telling them.

“The belief factor, the tactics and various things like that do not matter.

“It is what happens on the pitch and we go out there with a genuine chance.” Ferguson also declared that the “one or two mistakes” United made in their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona two years ago would not be repeated and that he was “very sure” his side would be better prepared for their task this time around. Ferguson - whose suggestion that the approach in Rome was imperfect bore out Cristiano Ronaldo's post-match claim that “we got our tactics wrong” - appeared to hint that he was ready to start Javier Hernandez with Wayne Rooney, rather than seek to stifle the Catalans with a five-man midfield.

“No one in our club thought for a minute he could achieve what he has achieved this season,” Ferguson said of Hernandez. “Hopefully it will continue that way (on the) night. He has the temperament to succeed (on the) night.” That said, Ferguson passed up the opportunity to say that his side, in true United tradition, would meet fire with fire against Barcelona at Wembley and the opposition will certainly dictate his game plan to some extent. “We always have to recognise the qualities of our opponents,” said the manager. “It's unwise to go into a game not preparing for your opponent's play, though of course we focus on what we can do ourselves.”

While Liverpool may have something to say about Ferguson's assertion, after the events in Istanbul six years ago, Michael Owen believes this is the most “perfect final”, pitching United against the greatest team of all time. “You couldn't pick a better setting, a better venue, teams, anything,” Owen said. “Both teams going in, in fantastic form. The best two teams in Europe, it doesn't get any bigger.”