Sir Alex Ferguson is trusting the players of Man United and Barcelona to put on a show to remember in Rome.

Ferguson’s two previous Champions League wins have come attached with a heavy dose of nostalgia given that miraculous comeback in the Nou Camp in 1999 came on what would have been Sir Matt Busby’s 90th birthday.

Last season in Moscow, United produced the most fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the air crash at Munich by lifting European football’s biggest club prize once more.

There are other reasons to crave a win this time around, Busby’s 100th birthday yesterday for a start.

Yet Ferguson is ready to let his players do the work themselves, knowing if the powerhouses of England and Spain fulfil their immense potential, it could be an all-time classic.

“You had a feeling that night in Barcelona and obviously there was fate attached to last year as well,” said the United boss.

“That happens. But I think this type of game might be beyond fate.

“It has the capability to be a fantastic final.”

Merely by electing to wear white shirts, Ferguson had to answer comparisons with the last team to face Barcelona facing such a colour, Real Madrid, who were promptly beaten 6-2 in their own Bernabeu backyard.

“That wasn’t a defeat, it was annihilation,” said Ferguson, before adding pointedly: “We are very happy playing white and we are better than Madrid!”

United have proved their strengths at home and abroad all season.

Their performances may have been lacking some of the sparkle from 12 months ago. But they have developed a tenacity and refusal to yield that might well come in handy tomorrow if they find themselves in the rare position of facing opponents who dominate possession.

“Neither team will want to give the ball away,” he said. “That will make it a very interesting game.

“What we do with it compared to our opponents and how long we can keep it will be the deciding factor.”

Before the 1999 epic, Ferguson famously warned his players not to leave themselves in the position of being able to see the most prestigious of trophies without being able to touch it.

The Scot is searching for similar inspiring words of wisdom, although so far they have proved elusive.

“These things usually happen to me about three in the morning when I am trying to get some inspiration from the deep chambers of my tiny little brain,” he said. “But at the moment nothing is coming out.”

Even at 67 it seems Ferguson is not beyond a sleepless night or two.

The truth is the enormity of what United can achieve in this most historic of cities should inspire all his players.

Title winners three times in succession, the Red Devils are bidding to add back-to-back European Cups.

No side has achieved it since the tournament was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992.

“I cannot explain why it hasn’t been done,” he said.

“In the history of the European Cup it was done regularly. Some won it two or three times in a row. There were cycles of teams winning it like Ajax, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

“Now we have an opportunity to change that and hopefully we can take it.”

By changing it, United would get themselves a label any side would want. The label of being great.

It is not a discussion even the most aware of individuals like Rio Ferdinand wants to have, knowing talk can be cheap at this rarefied level of the game.

But if United win tomorrow, they will earn a place in history no-one will be able to erase.

“There have been a lot of unlucky teams in world football but when you look at the pantheon of great teams you need to have won the European Cup to have that tag,” said Ferguson.

“There is no question about that. It has always been that way.

“Teams like Manchester United and Barcelona have to win the trophy to be regarded in that respect.”

Bangalore team management will decide whether Anil Kumble or Kevin Pietersen will captain the side in Champions League.

Under leg-spinner Kumble’s leadership, the Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the IPL final where they eventually lost to Deccan Chargers by six runs.

Pietersen was named captain for the first six matches, while Jacques Kallis was tipped to take over when the former England skipper left for the Test series against the West Indies.

Batsman Pietersen presided over four defeats in the first six matches until Kumble, who was unexpectedly handed the captaincy, effected a turnaround.

The run helped the team qualify for the inaugural Champions League which will be held in India from October 8 to 23.

“In terms of team composition for the Champions League we will work on that and choose the best combination,” Kumble said.

“I think everyone would be available for the tournament because there isn’t any international cricket scheduled during that time.

“Kevin (Pietersen) would be back and we would have to make a call on who would be captain because he was announced the Royal Challengers’ captain.”

The Champions League features 12 teams - the top three from the IPL, the top two domestic T20 teams from South Africa, England, Australia and the one team each from New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Jumbo all geared up

Kumble, who returned to his hometown Bangalore on Tuesday, acknowledged that the conditions in South Africa had played a major part in the team’s performance, but believed he was prepared for the challenge the Champions League offered.

“The wickets in South Africa played a huge role not only because it assisted spin, but also because it brought out the best in the experienced players,” he said.

“But the Champions League will be staged in India and the challenges will be different.

“There is pressure in every game and in international cricket you deal with pressure day in and day out whether you are playing at home or abroad.

“There’s still four months to go and there’s a lot of international cricket before that.

“As for me, I’m looking forward to a break and will start training just before the tournament.”

Arsenal’s Robin van Persie and Gael Clichy will miss Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Manchester United.

The Dutchman, who has hit 17 goals this season, continues to be troubled by a groin problem which saw him miss the midweek 4-4 draw at Liverpool and will not feature in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game with Middlesbrough at Emirates Stadium nor the first leg of the European tie against the holders.

Manager Arsene Wenger, though, hopes van Persie will be fit by the time United come to London on May 5.

There was more positive news on Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who could face Boro following a minor hamstring concern, while Almunia (ankle) and Djourou (knee) could both be back to bolster what Wenger accepts has been a “fatigued” defence.

“We will rotate a little bit again, but we have no major injuries from Liverpool,” said Wenger.

“Manuel Almunia was in full training on Thursday and we will see how he responds. Djourou was in full training also so we will see how he is too. Both could come back into the squad.

“It is not enough training to say [for sure] yet, we need 48 hours more.

“Emmanuel Adebayor should come back into training on Saturday. He could be in the squad.

“But Robin van Persie is definitely out for Sunday and for Manchester United.

“Gael Clichy could be back for the second Manchester United game. “He has a scan [on his back] on Monday. We will go from there. He has a chance to be back in full training next week.”

With van Persie and Adebayor both struggling for full match fitness, Nicklas Bendtner was asked to spearhead the attack at Anfield.

While Bendtner - who has hit 12 goals - was not on the scoresheet during an amazing game, he worked hard and saw one fine finish ruled out by a somewhat dubious offside flag.

Bendtner admits there have been spells this season where he “could not put a foot right”, but the youngster has never questioned his determination to succeed.

“People have not seen everything yet - there is a lot more to come and when people realise that, things will become even better,” Bendtner said.

“I feel more part of the starting 11 this season than last and I feel I have improved all over my game.

“We had a down period - me personally as well - but it makes people stronger, more determined and focussed.

“That is exactly what it has done with me and I have been playing better since then.”

Arsenal will be looking to extend an unbeaten Premier League run to 20 games against relegation battlers Boro.

Going forwards the Gunners would seem to have little to worry about, with Russian Andrey Arshavin - cup-tied in Europe - having smashed all four goals at Anfield.

“With the quality and mixture of players in our squad we can be really dangerous, and I think other teams acknowledge this,” Bendtner said.

“We know ourselves that with the blend of players with have, we can do some real damage.”

Johan Cruyff has been impressed with Liverpool and how they crushed Real Madrid and Man United in the space of four days.

And the man who played for and managed the Spanish giants wants to avoid Rafa Benitez’s side at all costs in Friday’s quarter-finals draw.

Cruyff, who still acts as an advisor to Barca, said: “Against Madrid, Liverpool became a steamroller, and for sure, many of those who feared playing against Manchester United don’t want to face Liverpool now.

“Because of the manner in which they demolished Madrid and then thrashed United, they are clearly the side who everyone will want to avoid in the draw for the Champions League.

John Terry will only have one training session to prove his fitness to Fabio Capello ahead of England’s trip to Belarus.

Captain Terry missed the 5-1 victory over Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday with a back problem which first flared up during Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League draw with CFR Cluj.

With the Three Lions flying out to Minsk on Tuesday morning, the influential centre-back is facing a race against time to convince the Italian that he is ready for 90 minutes of international action.

Rio Ferdinand took the armband in Terry’s absence at the weekend with Matthew Upson drafted into the side, but the West Ham centre-back looked nervous at times.

Football Association director of communications Adrian Bevington confirmed that Terry was due to train with his team-mates on Monday, after which a decision would be made over whether he will travel with the squad.

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