Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident of successfully defending their Champions League title.

Ferguson believes his squad are better equipped to try and retain crown than they were in 1999. They go into the Villarreal match on the back of a 17-match unbeaten run.

He said: "We were very naive the next season. I think teams having watched us the previous season worked us out tactically.

"That took us by surprise. We should have changed but we did not and suffered.

"This season I think we have a better team and a better squad. So we can make changes tactically. I think we have improved on that score. Players grow up in Europe and become familiar with the change in the way the game is played."