Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has asked his players to beat Barcelona and win the Champions League to be considered a genuinely great team. The current squad has in the past been compared to the Scot's previous teams, with many critics having inferred that the present team may not be as good as the veteran boss' previous ones.
But the 69-year-old has called on his players to put in a strong shift and do what is necessary to win the club's fourth European triumph on May 28 at Wembley. "Beating Barcelona would end all arguments about this team - exactly," said Sir Alex, according to The Mirror.
"That’s their challenge at Wembley. "I know we’re playing a terrific team, but would you back against us in a big way? I don’t think you would. We’re capable of doing very well in the final. "There’s nothing wrong with accepting challenges, we’re very good at that. "It doesn’t matter where the challenges come from, you have to stand up to the mark.
"And this side doesn’t give in, that’s their great quality."The Scot recalled some of his best teams over the years and placed them against his current side, and said: "It’s difficult to say where this team stands because we’ve had some great teams at this club.
"The 1994 double-winning team, the one in 1999 that won the treble, they both stand out, but all the teams we’ve had here have risen to the challenge, which is to win things.
"For some of the young players this is their first trophy - [Javier] Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson and Chris Smalling - and that gives them the impetus to move on and realise what being a Manchester United player involves."
Sir Alex also maintained that Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney can pose a threat to any defence in the world, given their recent expoits that saw them win the Premier League - after the draw with Blackburn Rovers.
"Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have terrific qualities when it comes to playing against anyone," he said. "You saw that last week against Chelsea in a game that really mattered, against the champions and the team that have been our strongest challengers for the last six years. That was the quality you saw from them.
"Hernandez is a dedicated boy who has met all the challenges set for him this season. He’s always a threat, he’s always looking to get by people and always making defenders turn towards the goal, which is a great asset."
Manchester United were beaten by Barcelona in the final of the Champions League in 2009, when Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored to seal a victory for the Spaniash side.