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'Write your own history'
22/04/2008 16:33 - (SA)
Barcelona - Alex Ferguson has told his class of 2008 to forget about the past and concentrate on writing their own chapter in the club's illustrious history at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.
The first leg of an enticing Champions League semi-final with Barcelona sees Ferguson return to the scene of his greatest managerial triumph, the dramatic final victory over Bayern Munich that completed the 1999 treble.
Players like Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, who both played that night, and Paul Scholes, who missed the final through suspension, are now the veterans of Ferguson's squad.
But the Scot insisted he would not be asking them to delve into their memory banks to provide inspiration for the younger members of his travelling party.
"I don't know what they've said to the other players," Ferguson said. "It is almost ten years ago now.
"The team of today is the team of today and they don't need reminding about the past. They've seen it often enough on Manchester United TV so I don't think it is lost on anyone.
'They are good enough'
"But I think what is even more important is what they can shape their own history and I think they are good enough to do that."
With the exception of 1999, the Champions League has proved a frustrating competition for Ferguson, who has seen his side stumble repeatedly at the penultimate stage, most recently last year when a 3-2 first-leg win over AC Milan was followed by a weary surrender and a 3-0 defeat in the San Siro.
This season however United have been bolstered by the acquisition and successful integration of players like Anderson, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Carlos Tevez, ensuring a deeper and more balanced squad has arrived at the business end of the season in much better shape.
As a result, Ferguson is relishing the prospect of demonstrating the validity of his claim that this is the strongest group of players he has had at his disposal in nearly 22 years at the helm of the English champions.
"All semi-finals have to be looked forward to, and obviously one against Barcelona more than most," he said.
"It is an opportunity for us to be successful. We are in a much stronger position than last year in terms of energy and player availability and hopefully that will make a difference to us."
- AFP
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