Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he likes the idea of the club becoming the first to successfully defend the Champions League trophy.

AC Milan, Ajax and Juventus were all beaten finalists in the mid 90s a year after becoming European champions, but no side have managed to go one better.

Yet it was in Moscow, with the celebratory bubbly still fizzing in his glass, that Ferguson started to turn his mind to a successful European title defence.

He said: "When we won it in Moscow the point was made in the press conference about no side having ever retained the cup in the Champions League format.

"I didn't know that was the case at the time, but you say to yourself it would be great if we could be the first do that. We are good at winning things for the first time and maybe that is a good omen for us.

"Talk is cheap, but faint heart never won fair lady and it's something I would dearly love to do.

"Some might say I am tempting fate but at Old Trafford we have always set our sights high.

"No one is saying it will be easy, and we will certainly need to enjoy that little rub of luck and freedom from injury that can make you or break you."