Sir Alex Ferguson has sent out a defiant message to Barcelona, insisting: You don't scare us.

Despite admitting Pep Guardiola's side are 'the team of the moment', Ferguson insists United can emulate the heroes of 1968 and triumph at Wembley.

United stormed into a third Champions League final in four years with a 4-1 thumping of Schalke – winning 6-1 on aggregate. Now only Barcelona stand in the way of a third European Cup for Ferguson – Old Trafford's fourth.

"I don't think we should be lacking confidence," he said. "Our form in Europe is very good.

"We are playing a fantastic team, but there shouldn't be terror. We can't be frightened out of our skins. Our job is to find a solution against them."

Victory against Schalke set up a repeat of United 2009 defeat to Barca in Rome. But Ferguson insists it will be a different story this time around.

"We were favourites last time," he said. "Maybe we are more experienced now, but they are at the peak of their development.

"Our experience has shown away from home in Europe and Barca's form over the last two seasons has been absolutely brilliant. It should be a really good final.

"I wish it was Brechin City in the final, no disrespect to them. But at the start of the season you say you'd like to get to the final and steer clear of Barcelona. 

"Barcelona are the team of the moment, there is no doubt about that. They play fantastic football – it is a pleasure to watch them play.

Closer 

"I've said many times that we should have done better in Europe and we are getting closer to that. This team can win the cup. The desire and determination, allied to ability gives them every chance."

Ferguson revealed he had already spoken to Jose Mourinho about Guardiola's team – but said he would talk to Real Madrid boss again as he devises a plan to stop the Catalans.

"We spoke last week but Real Madrid are a different team to us," Sir Alex said. "We will depend on our own knowledge. It's not like we've never seen them. We've watched them many times this season."

Ferguson also believes last night's win has handed his team a massive boost in the title head-to-head with Chelsea on Sunday.

He rested several key players, such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

He said: "It was not an easy decision, but the Arsenal result forced the situation.

"If it was a tight game I couldn't have done it.

"There is a massive difference between this game with Chelsea and the one last year. 

"We had lost to Bayern Munich and in the first-half we were really tired.

"Now we have a fresh team for Sunday and can go for it."

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