FC Barcelona v Man Utd - Ferguson predicts the 'final of the decade'

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by Crunch Sports Staff

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Sir Alex Ferguson (credit: Ryu Voelkel)

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Champions League final against Barcelona could be a classic

Speaking at Wembley Stadium on Friday, Ferguson said it was impossible to predict what would happen when the two giants of European football meet in a repeat of the 2009 final.

On that night in Rome, Barcelona won 2-0 with Pep Guardiola's side outplaying the Red Devils.

But Ferguson, who is out to win Europe's top club competition for a third time, believes this year's clash could be the "final of the decade."

"The success that both teams have had in the last decade has been enormous and it could not just be the final of the decade, but the best final," said the Scot.

"The two teams have great histories, that's obvious, but it's an appealing final in what could happen tomorrow - anything could happen.

"There could be a lot of goals, a lot of excitement and there will be a lot of good football, I'm sure of that, so it is all set up, and hopefully it turns out that way."

Ferguson was also full of praise for Pep Guardiola at Friday's pre-match press conference, revealing that he tried to sign him as a player when the now 40-year-old was playing for Barca.

He said: "I spoke to his agent when he left Barcelona and in the end he decided to go to Italy and maybe it was a moment lost because I admired him as a footballer.

"I thought he was a fantastic passer of the ball. The Barcelona team that beat us 4-0 at that time with players like (Jose Maria) Bakero and (Txiki) Beguiristain was superb."

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