Ryan Giggs admits Manchester United want to 'put right' 2009 defeat when they face Barcelona in Champions League final

Ryan Giggs has admitted Manchester United will head to Wembley for the Champions League final looking to "put right" their 2009 defeat to Barcelona.


United booked their place in the May 28 final on Wednesday night with a one-sided 4-1 (6-1 on aggregate) win over Schalke at Old Trafford in the second leg of their semi-final.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side now have the opportunity to avenge their 2-0 loss to Barcelona in Rome two years ago, when the Red Devils failed to perform at anywhere near their best.

Giggs said: “When you lose a final and you get beaten, that happens.

“The problem with Rome is that we didn't turn up and produce the football we knew we were capable of.

“Hopefully we can put that right at Wembley. Hopefully in the final we can prove what a good team we are.

“They [Barcelona] are a very good team with probably the best player in the world [Lionel Messi], so that's now our problem. We've got to go out and prove we are a very good team.”

The 2011 final will be United's third in four years, including their 2008 triumph in Moscow, and Giggs is hoping that the squad will be spurred on by 'home' advantage and the fact the club's first European Cup was won at Wembley in 1968.

“It's great for us being an English side going to Wembley and the Champions League final being there,” added the Welshman.

“It's a tremendous stadium steeped in history. We have won the European Cup there so hopefully we can do it again.

“It's great playing the finals at Wembley no matter what it is and the Champions League doesn't get any bigger than that so we are looking forward to it.”

Giggs, 37, scored the opening goal of the semi-final tie against Schalke in Germany and while he admits he is surprised by United's success in the competition, the midfielder believes the Premier League leaders have answered their critics this season.

He added: “It's tough getting to Champions League finals so it's a tremendous achievement by the team to get to three finals in four years.


“For me, personally, at this age you don't expect it. It's a total bonus.


“You will always have people that knock you as United, earlier in the season we probably weren't playing the football that Manchester United played in the past but we were winning games.

“Gradually at the turn of the year we played some great stuff and have had some great performances and some great results.”