Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United have learned the lessons of their 2009 Champions League final defeat and are ready for revenge over Barcelona.
United have been cast in the role of underdogs for Saturday's showdown with Barcelona who, inspired by the brilliance of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, are tipped to swat aside Ferguson's men for the second time in three years.
But Ferguson insisted his players do not suffer from an inferiority complex where Messi and co are concerned, and claimed he has every faith in United's ability to turn the tables on Barcelona and triumph at Wembley.
And the United boss is ready to pick an attacking line-up - with Wayne Rooney playing just off Javier Hernandez - to cause Barcelona maximum problems, rather than merely trying to contain their formidable attacking threat.
"We've played against Barcelona three times with Messi in their team and there's always a solution to every good player," said Fergie.
"We recognise they have many other good players, but we have good players too, which is why it's such an appealing game.
"I'm sure Barcelona are only too aware of the attacking threats we can offer and hopefully that's the case on Saturday."
Ferguson is understood to have decided on his team selection last week, resisting the temptation to play Rooney up front on his own and deploy an extra central midfielder for added security.
With Rooney playing just off Hernandez, the plan is for him to drop deep and provide extra cover in midfield when Barcelona are in possession, which is likely to be the pattern of the contest.
But Ferguson, while acknowledging Barcelona's majestic football and the "passing carousel" they create that destroys so many teams, is mindful of paying them too much respect.
"It's not just about Barcelona," said Ferguson. "It's about us too, what's best for us and what's the best way for us in terms of winning the match.
"It'll come down to how we operate in the attacking part. It's not easy picking a team with all the players I've got, because they've all contributed this season, but hopefully we'll pick the right side."
In the aftermath of United's 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in Rome two years ago, Ferguson was so irked by the loss - his first in a European final - he refused to share his thoughts on how it had all gone wrong in the Eternal City.
"The Rome final was too hard to explain," said Ferguson at the time. "You wouldn't understand. We lost a game when we should never have lost it."
But yesterday Ferguson was less cryptic, admitting poor concentration was his side's undoing for the first goal, while their inability to handle Messi, who scored the crucial second, ultimately proved fatal.
"When we lost the first goal it was that sudden lapse of concentration in terms of regrouping after we'd lost the ball," said Ferguson.
"That's what cost us really. Then they went through with Messi running midfield, which made it very difficult for us.
"So concentration is going to be very important in dealing with all the issues in terms of attacking and defending. That will be the key for us.
"When we beat Barcelona over two legs in the semi-finals in 2008, both matches involved fantastic concentration. That was the key for us and that's going to be a very, very important issue in terms of Saturday."
Ferguson may have steered United to an historic 19th domestic title this season, overtaking arch rivals Liverpool to stand alone as the most successful side in the country, but defeat to Barcelona would cast a shadow over that feat.
For the United boss, who turns 70 later this year, is desperate to add at least one more European Cup to the two he already has to his name before he eventually calls time on his remarkable career.
"It was a great moment for us this season winning the title," said Ferguson. "The only thing you can do at this club is win. It's the only thing that matters.
"But it's not a matter of sitting back and thinking about what's happened this season, you have to carry on because there's nothing else to do.
"You have a responsibility and there's an expectation we have to live up to, which is what we always try to do here."
That expectation means lifting the European Cup against the odds at Wembley on Saturday, just as United did under Sir Matt Busby at the same historic stadium 43 years ago.
Beating Barcelona, arguably the greatest club side to ever play the game, would rank as Ferguson's finest hour. Defeat would leave a question mark over his European record and the United boss mired in self-recrimination once more.
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