United completed a 6-1 aggregate triumph over Schalke in their semi-final tonight, setting up a repeat of the 2009 final in Rome.

On that occasion, the Red Devils were undone by goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi and left Italy nursing a severe sense of underachievement.

Since then, United have lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, whilst Barcelona have added David Villa and confirmed their reputation as the best club side on the planet.

But Ferguson insists his side should not harbour an inferiority complex.

"I don't think we should be going there lacking in confidence," he said.

"Their form has been very good this season and we will be playing a fantastic team.

"But they haven't got a terror against us. We cannot be frightened out of our skin. We have got to find a solution to playing against them."

To that end, Ferguson will be making contact with old friend Jose Mourinho, who has suffered painfully at Barcelona's hands already this season, most recently this week when Real Madrid were turned over in their own semi-final.

"I speak to him quite a lot," said Ferguson.

"Real are a different team from us for a start. It's not as if we haven't seen them before.

"I have watched them many times this season but we will take the information because Jose is very helpful that way."

Ferguson will become only the second manager to lead a team into four European Cup finals, although he jokingly wished the opposition was slightly easier after goals from Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson and a second-half brace from Anderson secured a 4-1 win on the night.

"I wish it was Brechin City or someone like that," he laughed.

"At the start of the season if you look at the final, you think steer clear of Barcelona because their performance is there for everyone to see.

"But we have done our job well and our away form has been terrific.

"Wembley is a neutral ground but I think we'll be quite well prepared."

Ferguson feels they are better equipped to face Barcelona than two years ago.

He said: "We were the favourites the last time and maybe we have a little more experience.

"But this year and last year Barcelona's form has been brilliant. It should be a really good final.

"It should represent the history and traditions of both clubs. There is a different set of traditions with Real Madrid and Barcelona because of their tribalism and history.

"They have always been the two biggest clubs in Spain and the rivalry is intense."

Darren Fletcher returned after a virus and is now in with a chance of playing a part in the run-in.

Ferguson said: "One advantage we've got is that we've got no players missing for the final.

"For Darren now, he's catching up all the time. We've got three weeks to assess the situation.

"He is looking okay and putting him in from the start wouldn't have been fair to him because he really does need games.

"Some players are big-game players and he's a big-game player."

Ferguson made eight changes to the side that lost to Arsenal with Chelsea to come on Sunday in a vital league game.

He said: "I think you have to trust them sometimes, it's not an an easy decision to rest some of them for a few days.

"If it had been a tight result in the last game we couldn't have done it but two goals had enough leeway to do it.

"There's a massive difference now from last year after going into that game (against Chelsea ) after losing to Bayern. It will be fresh team, not a tired team and and we'll go for it."