Patrice Evra has claimed Manchester United paid the price for over-confidence in their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona two years ago.
United full-back Evra is happy for praise to be scattered over Barca's impressive shoulders because exactly the opposite happened in Rome in 2009, and Evra believes United were duped into believing their own publicity.
"Rome was a bad feeling," he said. "I am honest. I was confident in Italy. Maybe too confident. I thought we were going to win. Two years ago everyone said we were going to beat Barcelona easily in Rome. Maybe the opposite will happen this time."
Evra's viewpoint means he is not as irritated as United skipper Nemanja Vidic at the perceived lack of respect.
In fact, he finds it quite amusing.
As the lone positive voice amid a barrage of criticism during October, Evra has enjoyed being able to show off a fourth title medal and snigger: "I told you so."
Which is why there is no sense of inferiority as he assesses the task United must face this weekend.
"It doesn't matter about us not getting respect," he said. "We have had a lot of criticism this year. Everyone had said it was the end of the Manchester United empire. But we still won the league.
"Now they are saying we didn't play well. But we won the title by nine points.
"That's good. If we ever start to play well we are going to win it by 20."
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