Barca and United meet in the final of the Champions League next Saturday in a repeat of the 2009 showpiece, which the Catalans won 2-0 to complete an historic treble in Guardiola's first season in charge at the Nou Camp.

And Guardiola, who has been tipped as a possible successor to Sir Alex Ferguson when the Scot finally decides to retire, is a fan of the English champions.

"I admire them," he said.

"Manchester United are a fantastic rival, but they have an advantage because two years ago we beat them - winning (games like that) can confuse you.

"You can't be favourites in a final against Manchester United anyway - they are a great team.

"They sold Cristiano (Ronaldo) and they are still winning."

Guardiola came up against the likes of Scholes and Ryan Giggs in Champions League clashes between the two clubs in the late 1990s.

And the former Barca captain says he would have liked to have played with the former England midfielder.

"Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes - he is the best midfielder of his generation," he said.

"I would have loved to have played alongside him."

There was also praise for United's veterans from one of Barca's own midfield maestros, Andres Iniesta.

"Scholes and Giggs are still great players; they are a point of reference in their team," he said.

"United are a great team with great players - and they like to play good football."

Iniesta remembers fondly the 2009 final in Rome.

"It was a very special game," he said.

"It was a special season and we really wanted to finish it on a high. Manchester United got off to a strong start, but we scored the first goal and from then on we were able to control the game."

Barca are set to have a full-strength squad available after UEFA dismissed allegations Sergio Busquets made a racist remark to Real Madrid full-back Marcelo in the semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu.

And Iniesta believes Busquets could be vital.

"Busquets is such an important player for us and his presence at Wembley will be key," said the Spain midfielder.

Iniesta himself is enjoying a fantastic campaign and is only one goal away from scoring 10 in a season for the first time.

For the man who scored the winner in the World Cup final last summer, getting into double figures at Wembley would be another moment to savour.

"It would be special but it doesn't matter who scores," he said.

"I've played a lot of games and I've been able to score some goals as well - it has been a great season for us and the fans have enjoyed it."