Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United are ready to end their run of Champions League exits at the hands of German clubs, as the Premier League leaders prepare to face Schalke in this season's semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

Ferguson's side have suffered knockout defeats against Bayern Munich (twice), Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in recent memory - with the latter two both ending United's Champions League dream at the semi-final stage, in 1997 and 2002 respectively.

Most recently, Bayern knocked United out of last season's competition en route to the final, triumphing on away goals after winning 2-1 in Munich and losing 3-2 at Old Trafford.

United do, of course, also have fond memories of facing German opposition having beaten Bayern in dramatic circumstances in the 1999 final, while they also defeated Wolfsburg home and away last season.

And Ferguson believes United are fully equipped to exorcise their German knockout demons when they line up against Ralf Ragnick's Schalke at Veltins Arena on Tuesday.

"We've not had a great record against Bayern from the 99 season. We drew twice in the group stages and beat them in the final," Ferguson said.

"We were very unlucky against Leverkusen, we should have seen them off and we were very unlucky against Dortmund but you can't always be unlucky and sometimes it'll change for you. The German teams have always had that resilience and determination about them and that will be exactly the same on Tuesday night.

"We're going into this game with far more experience than we have in previous years and our record away from home in the last few years has been terrific."

Schalke's line will be led by three-time European Cup winner Raul, who recently revealed that United were interested in his services when he was leaving Real Madrid last summer.

And Ferguson confirmed that he had considered signing the veteran Spain striker, who is the Champions Laague's all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 71 goals.

"We spoke to his agent or his agent spoke to us and we were a little bit tempted because you said to yourself 'He's not too old that he can't score a goal in the Premier League," Ferguson said.

"His time at Real had come to an end after a fantastic career but players like that always find something in terms of ambition, they don't just wither away, and at his age he had plenty to do, plenty to offer.

"It would have been [a Henrik Larsson-type signing]. You get opportunities with experience like that like we did with Michael Owen and Michael Owen has been a fantastic professional here. They bring value to the team, bring experience and I think if I didn't have Michael Owen I might have been tempted.

"Raul is Raul and you've got to be careful in the last third of the field because he's still got the intelligence and a fantastic goal record. It's 71 in the Champions League? Bloody hell, I hope it stays that way for the next three weeks."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on his side's last-gasp defeat at Bolton: "It is difficult to swallow the way we lost. We gave everything we had left today. We had chances to win it but didn't take it and in the end we were caught in the way we feared today, from a corner. The week we have just had summed up our season - lots of quality in our game on Sunday, Wednesday and today but not enough rewards for our effort. And on their title hopes: "Our chances are very minimal, that is for sure."

More from Wenger, on mounting criticism of his approach: "If you can prove my principles are wrong, I am ready to change them all. Conceding a goal from a corner in the last minute is not enough to convince me." And is there silverware to come from his side in the future: "There is. You will see, that is without a doubt. If there is someone to blame, it's me. The players have been outstanding all season."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle on his side's battling display and last-gasp win over Arsenal: "I think everyone knows how bad we felt after the FA Cup semi-final and it was important we showed our character today - and we did that. We dealt Arsenal's title hopes a big blow but more important for us was our performance. I think we showed the real Bolton Wanderers today and went a long way to putting the smile back on our fans' faces."

Bolton striker Daniel Sturridge after his side's win over Arsenal: "After last week, we wanted to show the fans we had the passion to prove to them that was just one bad day. I have done my team Chelsea a favour today but I came out here to work for Bolton and their fans."

Dimitar Berbatov has not travelled with the United squad for Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final with Schalke.

The Premier League's top goalscorer has had a groin problem and sat out the draw at Newcastle and Saturday's victory over Everton.

Midfielders Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves remain unavailable and Bebe also misses out.

However, John O'Shea took his place on the plane despite leaving the field with an injury against the Toffees and a third goalkeeper has still to be confirmed.

Squad: Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak; Patrice Evra, Wes Brown, Chris Smalling, Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic, Fabio, Rafael; Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Ji-sung Park, Michael Carrick, Nani, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan, Darron Gibson; Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez.

Schalke defender Christoph Metzelder has put a target firmly on Wayne Rooney's back ahead of Manchester United's Champions League semi-final first leg visit to Germany on Tuesday.

Rooney has rediscovered something like his best form in recent weeks and he was again influential in United's 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday, drifting off the forward line expertly to dictate play.

Metzelder, 30, said Schalke are well aware of Rooney's ability to find space and would be looking to limit his freedom, even if merely seeking to do so and actually achieving that aim can be two different stories.

"It's all about stopping Rooney, he's the key player," Metzelder said. "The first match is at home so it will be very important not to concede a goal. Against Chelsea he dropped into the midfield, so it's important to defend against him not only with the defensive line but also with the midfielders.

Metzelder said he was glad Schalke had avoided favourites Barcelona in their first-ever Champions League semi-final, claiming United more conventional style of play is easier to counter than the tiki-taka of the Spanish pass-masters.

"Of course we know that Manchester United have so many key players but they don't scare us," he said. "It would be much more difficult for us to play against Barcelona. The style of Manchester United is easier for us, if you can say that. Barcelona take control and they make you run so much it's very difficult to defend against them. It's easier to play against teams like Manchester United - or even Real Madrid."

But Metzelder is by no means underestimating the challenge ahead for Schalke, though, conceding the German side are the underdogs.

"Manchester United have had so much experience in the Champions League over the last 20 years. Individually they are so very strong so they're big favourites.

"Our advantage is certainly that Manchester United will be busy thinking about facing either Real or Barcelona at Wembley in the final. We will definitely be looking to come up with something."

Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic Chelsea can overtake Manchester United at the top of the table having seen first-hand how a comfortable advantage can be thrown away.

Ancelotti was in charge of Juventus in 2000 when they were overtaken by Lazio despite having held a nine-point advantage with eight games to go.

Chelsea, who had trailed United by 15 points at one stage, have now closed the gap to just six points and, as Chelsea have yet to visit Old Trafford in the league, Ancelotti hopes United will wilt under the pressure.

"I lost a title nine points up with eight games to go," he said. "It can happen. It's not a nice feeling. It was very difficult to think two months ago that we could stay with the lead so for this reason, at this moment, we are happy."

Before the teams' meeting at Old Trafford, both sides face tricky encounters. Chelsea host Tottenham in Saturday's late kick-off, and United then head to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

"If we are able to win against Tottenham, I think we can put more pressure on Manchester United in the game against Arsenal," Ancelotti said.

Should Chelsea win all their remaining games and United suffer two defeats, the title could be decided on goal difference and, with the Blues currently on 37 and United on 39, Ancelotti is eager to ensure his side take their chances.

"It can happen," he said when asked about the prospect of the teams finishing level on points. "It was important for us to score three goals [against West Ham]."

Sir Alex Ferguson on being asked whether he wants to play Barcelona or Real Madrid in the Champions League final: "I don't like jumping ahead. We have to deal with Schalke first. If we can manage that, I don't care who we play in the final. You always get apprehensive at this stage of the competition. Semi-finals are never easy. We had the same situation in 1999 when we played our semi-final against Juventus. There was an apprehension in our first game at home that we released in the second leg. When we played Barcelona in the first leg (three years ago) we got the result we wanted. But the last 20 minutes of the second leg were absolute agony."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer: "I think when Chicharito scored at 0-0, but was offside, it showed the other players they could beat this goalkeeper! He was fantastic. It was one of the best performances I have seen against Manchester United."

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney after his side's comfortable win over Schalke: "I think we played really well tonight and fully deserved the victory but we are a bit disappointed we didn't take more of our chances. But is was still a good away win for us and we have to be professional and finish the job off at home. We won't take them lightly."

Sir Alex Ferguson has no doubts Manchester United will go on to claim a record 19th Premier League title if they beat Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The game sees Chelsea, three points behind United, able to take over at the top of the league on goal difference before games against Newcastle and Everton if they win. But if United triumph, they would be six clear and would only require a point from their final two games against Blackburn and Blackpool to achieve their objective.

But Ferguson regards picking up an additional point as a minor inconvenience compared to beating a side that has claimed 25 points from their last 27, which is why he made eight changes to his starting line-up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final decider with Schalke.

''Everyone is aware of the magnitude of Sunday's game,'' said Ferguson. ''If we win, we should win the league. It is a game we are looking forward to. Last Sunday's result (at Arsenal) has certainly brought us an awareness of how important this week's game is.

''It is one of the reasons why I picked the team I did on Wednesday. I wanted to give us a real chance. We will have a fresh team on Sunday and that makes a difference at this time of the season. It should be a fantastic game.''

Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will be fit to play after resting a minor hamstring complaint in midweek. However, midfielder Darren Fletcher is not going to start, even though he returned from a two-month absence with a virus by making a 20-minute substitute appearance in midweek.

Instead, Ferguson is looking towards the Champions League final against Barcelona on May 28 as Fletcher's long-term goal.

''Wednesday was a step forward but that 20 minutes was just to give him a boost really because the boy has a bit to do yet,'' said Ferguson. ''He has almost has three weeks to the final and that is his target.

''If he does reach it, it would be a great boost to us. As we all know he is a big game player. He won't start on Sunday but his training will be stepped up in terms of giving him the sharpness he needs.

''We have Blackburn and Blackpool in the Premier League and also Gary Neville's testimonial so there is some game time there that could help him to reach his target.''