Rio out to set record straight :Ferdinand desperate to beat Barca and end pain of 2009

Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United VS Barcelona

Two years ago in Rome, United were soundly beaten by Barcelona in a game the Catalan giants dominated to win 2-0, with the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel messi   imperious throughout.

On Saturday, the teams will do battle at the same stage again, this time on English soil at Wembley as both teams look to claim their fourth European Cup.

Messi scored a header that night in Rome and the World Player of the Year is sure to be the biggest threat on the pitch once again, but Ferdinand is eager to banish the bad memories and emerge victorious.

"Revenge is not the right word, but I do have regrets about that 2009 final defeat to Barcelona," Ferdinand told the News Of The World.

"I was gutted, devastated by the end of that game. Nobody likes to lose a cup final but it was one of the worst feelings I have ever had in my career.

"We just didn't perform as we should have done last time. This time we have to give a better account of ourselves.

"We started well in the game and if we had put away one of the chances we had in first 10 minutes, it could have been a different story.

"We mustn't let the same thing happen this time. We can't leave the Wembley turf with any ifs or buts this time."

The England international acknowledges the threat of Messi, but feels that there is quality all over the field and that his own team had the ability to cause what would be considered an upset.

"How do you stop Messi? You can't shoot him but it's about stopping him getting the ball," he said.

"They have world-class players everywhere but then so do we."

No advantage

When asked whether playing on home soil will give his team an advantage, Ferdinand did not feel it would be the case, but remarked that beating Barcelona would be up there with the club's greatest achievements.

"I don't think playing at Wembley gives us any advantage at all," he added.

"The only advantage for us would have been if it was being played at Old Trafford. However this is our third Champions League final in four years and that in itself is a tremendous achievement.

"We have been very consistent and to win two out of those three finals would be superb, especially against this Barcelona side."