Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand insists he is still 'sickened' at how they lost the Champions League final to Barcelona last season.

Barcelona ended United's reign as European champions with a comprehensive 2-0 win in Rome last May and the defeat still hurts Ferdinand.

Ferdinand, who made his return from injury against Tottenham at the weekend, is determined to make amends this season, starting with Tuesday's trip to Besiktas, live on Sky Sports 2.

"Having lost a Champions League final, I know what it feels like. It was sickening in Rome because we felt we were on the cusp of greatness, so to lose the way we did was really difficult," said Ferdinand.

"The worst thing about it was that we didn't even put up a fight.

"We never got going. If we had scored in the first 10 minutes, I think we'd have gone on to win the game, but Barcelona got the first goal and it stunned us.

"We never recovered after that and that was so disappointing."

Ferdinand is confident United can enjoy more success in Europe this term.

"You want to win it at all costs and as long as we're winning, that's all that matters," added Ferdinand.

"Over the last three seasons, we've performed really well. We won the league three times, reached two Champions League finals so people expect a lot of us.

"If you sometimes don't deliver the big one, then you get a bit of flak and you have to deal with that."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking forward to going head-to-head with new teams in the UEFA Champions League.

The Red Devils were paired with CSKA Moscow, Besiktas and Wolfsburg in Group B of this season's tournament.

Their campaign gets under way on Tuesday as United take on Besiktas in Turkey and Ferguson is expecting a partisan atmosphere.

The Premier League champions have lengthy trips to Turkey and Russia this season and the Scot would prefer to have shorter travel times.

"The fans have incredible fanaticism," explained Ferguson. "I have been here four times, twice each to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Passion

"From my past experiences the fans come to the stadium at 12 o'clock. It is amazing. It shows you the passion they have for their clubs.

"It's a group that we've not played any of the teams before, but that's a great experience of Europe. It's something new for us.

"We look forward to it. It's an interesting group. The travelling makes it a little bit more difficult than normal.

"You always hope you get a Dutch, French or German team, so there's not a lot of travelling.

"We've got a bit of travelling to do in this one."

Squad

Although Ferguson has lost the likes of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer he is backing his current squad to impress.

"You don't like losing players of that calibre. But he (Ronaldo) has moved on and so must we," he continued.

"We have a young team, with young players, who are improving all the time.

"On top of the experience we have it gives us a very solid strong and powerful squad."

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Michael Owen is very much still in his plans, but will have to be patient in his quest for first-team football.

Owen has started just one league game following his summer switch to Old Trafford, and he is very much behind Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in the pecking order.

And Ferguson admits he wants his first-choice pairing to play together as much as possible at the moment.

"Michael hasn't been involved, and I've explained that to him," said Ferguson.

"The season hasn't really started - and because of the internationals we haven't been playing Saturday and Wednesday, as we normally would.

"So Michael doesn't really come into the equation, because we're still trying to get the blend between Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov."

20 goals

Ferguson is pleased with how Rooney particularly has started and he insists he wants 20 goals from his England star.

"Wayne has started well with his scoring," said Ferguson.

"We need a couple of players to get us more than 20 goals this season.

"Wayne always wants to score goals. He just needs consistency.

"He scores in bunches of sixes and sevens, then goes quiet for a few weeks.

"We just need that consistency of goals, like we used to get from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Andy Cole."

September 15, 2009

BRYAN Robson is urging Anderson to take his foot off the gas in order to accelerate his bid for an established senior role in United's midfield.

The young Brazilian's breakthrough senior goal from open play against Spurs at White Hart Lane has posted notice that he can become a serious goal contributor.

Old Trafford legend Robbo, who is out here in Istanbul with the Reds, scored 97 goals for United and 26 for England in his career.

The ex-goalscoring midfielder believes the 22-year-old South American can build on his Tottenham opener that broke his two-year duck but also needs to study Paul Scholes if he's to fulfil his potential as an engine room dictator.

"Ando has terrific talent and great energy levels," Bryan told M.E.N. Sport in Turkey.

"He is quick to get up to people to make his tackles. I just think he needs to have a little look at Paul Scholes the way he quickens the tempo of the game at certain times and then slows it down at other times.

"If Ando takes that on board he can be a top, top player for United. He has got all the ability. But sometimes he closes people down with great enthusiasm but then when he is on the ball he still plays at the same pace.

"It can be a bit 100mph. That's because he is young and people have to realise that the more he is going to play the more experience he will get and playing with great players and learning on the training ground he will master that.

"Brazilians are not normally 100 mph players. They like to slow the game down then quicken it up. Ando though has lovely technique like all the Brazilians."

It is that South American influence that Robson believes will bring out more goals in Anderson's game to add to the White Hart Lane strike that was his first in 78 appearances.

But Robson, who is a United ambassador but is a candidate for the vacant Thailand National team job, warns that we shouldn't be expecting a Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard haul from the 22-year-old.

"At times Ando shows that technique and ability of a Brazilian and if you have that goals will come the longer you play," Captain Marvel added.

"The more experience he gets, his technique and ability will ensure he'll score more goals.

"The timing of his runs into the box can improve a little bit. He is actually getting there and getting better at it.

"The more he scores early on this season will give him more confidence to keep on getting in there.

"Because we have lost Cristiano Ronaldo the goals have to come from other positions now. It has to be a joint effort.

"But he does have goals in his locker. He needs to work on it in training as well. He needs to think about knocking the ball wide and then time the run to be able to get on the end of situations.

"However, fans shouldn't expect him to be what Lampard is for Chelsea or Gerrard is for Liverpool. I always think it is about how your team is structured.

"Chelsea are structured for Anelka and Drogba to score and then Lampard backing up from midfield. That is where they rely on their goals to come from. The team is built around that.

"It is the same at Liverpool. The team is structured so that Gerrard can get into the box.

"United are not like that now. It was structured like that when Ronaldo was playing. It was all built around trying to give Ronaldo a free license to attack and keep all his energies for doing that.

"With the squad we have now it will be a workload shared by everyone in defence and attack. It is a nice balance to have. United won't be looking for one midfielder to be their main source of goals from that department.

"Ando is capable of between seven to 12 goals and that is a great improvement for him. It is wrong to expect a Gerrard or Lampard contribution from him.

"If he returns between five and ten goals it is not bad."

Early season reports suggested the Brazilian had had a bust up with manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the youngster admitted he wasn't happy to have been left out of the Community Shield against Chelsea.

It followed on from last term when there was a dip in the eye-catching impact he made the previous term after signing from Porto in the summer of 2007.

"I don't think it really went wrong for him last season. He is 22. You don't get a finished article from a player until they are 24," added Robbo.

"He is still learning the game in the midfield role. He has taken on board what they want from him and I can see an improvement."

stuart mathieson

September 15, 2009

MICHAEL Owen has been issued with a "be patient" message from Sir Alex Ferguson - but the United boss still expects a bagful of goals from the striker.

It is four and a half years since Owen's last Champions League appearance and nearly five years since his last goal in the competition.

His extra-time substitute appearance for Real Madrid when he came on for Raul against Juventus in March 2005 was his last Euro outing.

The 29-year-old summer signing's last Champions League goal came in October 2004 for the Spaniards against Dynamo Kiev.

Ferguson says his United debut in the tournament is set to be on hold with a bench seat in Istanbul against Besiktas tonight his best hope.

The stop-start opening to the campaign has meant Fergie has been unable to get any continuity for his first choice spearhead of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

But the Anglo-Bulgarian axis is set to be given time to bed in at Owen's expense.

Owen, who was picked up as a free agent in the close season, has so far has started just one match in the defeat at Burnley. He has made three sub appearances and scored at Wigan.

But the carrot of an England recall with the World Cup in South Africa next summer could be frustratingly dangled out of his reach as the United manager plans to give his £60m attack an extended run.

"Owen has not been involved and I explained that to him," said Sir Alex.

"The season has not really started because of the internationals and we are not really playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday yet.

"So Owen doesn't come in to the equation because we are trying to get a blend of Berbatov and Rooney. But he will play plenty of games, just maybe not early. But he will get us 15-20 goals this season."

Owen and Berbatov have managed just one goal apiece so far but Rooney is storming ahead in the Old Trafford goalscoring charts.

Including the Community Shield hit against Chelsea the England forward has bagged six goals in six games for United.

Fergie wants the 23-year-old to keep that sequence going.

"Wayne has started well with his scoring, that's the first things to say," Fergie added.

"We need a couple of players to get us more than 20 goals there is no doubt about that.

"Our goal ratio last season was very poor. We only scored 68 goals in the league. There was one season (1999-2000) when we got 98 goals!

"Last season was an unusual one in terms of goals scored so we need players to get us over 20 and Wayne has started the campaign well.

"He has five league goals and that's terrific."

The United boss doesn't believe the departure of main man Cristiano Ronaldo has seen Rooney consciously grasp the nettle to be the Reds major force.

"No I don't think so at all," he said. "There is no difference between this and last season in terms of desire or anything. He is always wanting to score goals.

"He just needs consistency. He goes in bunches of sixes and sevens and then goes quiet for a few weeks and then comes back again."

Meanwhile, Fergie has had a cheerful pop at the doubters who'd questioned the champion's strength this season.

"It will be really hard to win the league. Chelsea are strong and Spurs was a test. Some guy said it was the worst United team in years!

"That was a beauty. The worst team in years, maybe it will be! Maybe we will only win the league."

stuart mathieson

September 15, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson believes he has the Euro tools to become only the third manager to take a side to three successive Champions League finals.

Having won in Moscow and lost in Rome if the United boss could steer the Reds to Madrid he will join Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi in the UEFA history books.

England coach Capello took Milan to the 1993, 94 and `95 finals winning once. Lippi took Juve to the 1996, 97 and 98 showpieces also winning the one trophy. Fergie could be the first boss to win two in three in the Champions League era.

"When we get to the later stage then we can start to think about getting to Madrid," he says as the Reds start in Group B tonight against Besiktas.

"I think the material is there to win it. We have a good bunch of players. If we win it it will not be the team that wins it, it will be the squad.

"It's not easy to win it, as we found out in Rome. One mistake in a big game like that and you are crucified. Remember that. One mistake. Dead."

First step is for the Reds to be in December's draw for the knockout stages via the group section against Besiktas, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg.

"You have to respect this competition. We cannot afford to not qualify," he says.

"This is the first game so we have to pick the right team. We cannot take chances and we won't take chances.

"We need to get that ten points. The difficult thing is the travel. It's a long way to Turkey and to Moscow. We have to go to Germany for the last game so we have to make sure we are in a good position.

"I don't think there is any pressure after losing the final not at this moment in time. If we keep our heads and play the right way I think we should qualify."

September 15, 2009

BEN FOSTER insists United have put their Rome flop out of their heads as they open their new Champions League campaign in Turkey tonight.

The Reds keeper was an unused substitute in Italy last May against Barcelona but insists there will be no hangover this term.

"Every time we lose a match we look to bounce back straight away," says the 26-year-old.

"We cannot dwell on Rome. We have to look forward to this season and kick on again."

Foster made just one European appearance last season away to Celtic in Scotland but is looking to keep the gloves off Edwin van der Sar to help his England cause.

"With the World Cup in sight at the end of the season it is important I do well in whatever games I get. I have started the season reasonably well and played every game so far so long may it continue," he said.

"I am really enjoying it. Playing the odd game here and there is good to get in games of football but when you get a really solid run in the team you can settle down more.

"Hopefully there is more to come."

Manchester United begin their quest to avenge last season's UEFA Champions League final defeat to Barcelona when they face Besiktas on Tuesday.

Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson and a number of his senior players have confessed the manner of their 2-0 defeat in Rome at the hands of Barca still wrangles, with the Scot admitting he would love another final showdown with the Catalans this term.

United travel to Turkey on the back of their 3-1 win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in what many described as their best performance of the season.

However the Premier League champions have been handed a tricky opening group with long distance flights to Turkey and Russia, along with what promises to be a tough test in Germany against Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg.

Besiktas will aiming to prove to be worthy opponents on home soil and will be determined to restore some pride after losing 3-0 to fierce rivals Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby on Saturday.

United have played against both Galatasaray and Fenerbache in Europe over the last 15 years and will have an idea of what to expect in the Inonu Stadium. The Besiktas fans are sure to have the ground shaking come kick-off.

Dismal start

Despite often living in the shadow of city rivals Fenerbache and Galatasaray, Besiktas are Turkey's only representatives in the competition.

However the Black Eagles have begun this season dismally having taken just six points from their first five league games.

The hosts will have to do without defender Ibrahim Toraman due to a heel injury but other than that, Besiktas will be at full strength.

Besiktas goalkeeper Rustu Recber will be looking to banish memories of the last time he faced Wayne Rooney after the England striker put three goals past him on his United debut in a 6-2 win over Fenerbache at Old Trafford in 2004.

United will have to be wary of the attacking threat posed by Nihat Kahveci after he joined Besiktas in the summer following a successful seven year stay in Spain, playing for Real Sociedad and Villarreal.

Meanwhile Besiktas will be looking to do better than the last time they faced English opposition after they lost 8-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in 2007, a record Champions League loss.

United team news

Rio Ferdinand should keep his place after he came through the full 90 minutes at Spurs unscathed having missed the first four games of the season with a thigh injury.

John O'Shea was expected to miss the match against Spurs having returned from international duty with a calf complaint but he came through to complete the full game and he should start again.

Ferguson is likely to mix his squad up once more so Michael Carrick, Nani and Park Ji-Sung could all be pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar (hand), Gabriel Obertan (back), Rafael (shoulder) and Owen Hargreaves (knees) remain sidelined.