Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has hailed the impact made by current No1 Edwin van der Sar.

"It took far too long for him to arrive at United but eventually he did, and that's the best thing that could have happened," Schmeichel told uefa.com. "You had all the talent; all the defenders and the spine of the team were there, but it was missing a good goalkeeper. And he is there now and you can just see what his presence has done to the club.

"Suddenly Rio Ferdinand is possibly the best defender in the world. I don't think he would have got there had he not had a goalkeeper like Van der Sar behind him. Nemanja Vidic has impressed me so much and the relationship the three of them have now is a major factor in what they achieved last season. Van der Sar has given United the edge again."