United will meet either Liverpool FC or Chelsea FC in this season’s UEFA Champions League final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on 21 May in what will be only the second final contested by two English teams in the history of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup and UEFA Cup. The first was when Tottenham Hotspur FC defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers FC over two legs in the inaugural UEFA Cup final in 1971/72.

Two previous UEFA Champions League finals have been played between sides from the same nation. Spain set the ball rolling in 1999/00 as Real Madrid CF defeated Valencia CF 3-0 at the Stade de France, with goals from Fernando Morientes, Steve McManaman and Raúl González, while the 2002/03 final saw AC Milan meet Italian rivals Juventus, with the former prevailing 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

That game in Manchester was the most recent of five all-Serie A continental finals including four UEFA Cup showpieces. Juventus beat AC Fiorentina 3-1 over two legs in the 1989/90 final, while FC Internazionale Milano prevailed 2-1 on aggregate against AS Roma the following year. In 1994/95, Parma AC beat Juventus 2-1, also after home and away matches, while Inter beat S.S. Lazio 3-0 in the one-legged 1997/98 final at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

There has been one all-German final to date, in 1979/80 when Eintracht Frankfurt beat VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach on away goals, losing 3-2 away but winning 1-0 at home. The semi-finals of that competition also featured four sides from the former West Germany. More recently, the 2006/07 UEFA Cup final was contested by two Spanish sides, with Sevilla FC beating RCD Espanyol 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Glasgow.

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Now our chance of winning the Primera División is gone, our one and only priority is to reach the Champions League final. The good game we had against Manchester United last week showed everyone we are capable of beating them and booking our ticket to Moscow. We played a very complete game. The only thing missing was obviously a goal on the score sheet. Even so, a goalless draw is not a bad result because another draw in Manchester will put us in the final or at least take us to penalties.

Lots of people criticized Manchester United for playing defensively at Camp Nou, but if you look at their line-up, it was more attacking than in many of their other games. I guess they weren’t actually able to attack us, because we pressed them very well and controlled possession. Their only option was to counterattack, which they tried with Cristiano Ronaldo, but our defence was very alert and marked him well. It was surprising that he missed the penalty, but these things happen in football. It doesn’t overshadow the magnificent season he’s had.

I think I played a good game. It was an enormous relief to play after a long absence and not feel anything wrong. The injury is healed and I am ready for Tuesday’s match. Frank Rijkaard has shown his confidence in me many times before. If he decides to include me in the Old Trafford lineup I will do my best to get to my third Champions League final.

The second leg will be a completely different game because they will try to win the ball and put pressure on us. They need to score, so they will go for it. We need to hang tight during the first 15 minutes and avoid giving it away easily. We must be 100 per cent focused, especially at the start, when their supporters will lift them a lot.

I don’t think the weekend’s league results will have the slightest influence in the semi-final. It is true Manchester United lost an important high-stakes game against Chelsea, but we lost to Deportivo La Coruña as well. Most of United’s starters were benched because of the Barcelona game, so they will be fresh and fit. When a semi-final like this comes around, everybody forgets what has been and focuses only on the match.

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