Fergie to pick from the best

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said his side will be at full strength for the Champions League final after defeating Schalke.

United accounted for their Bundesliga opponents 6-1 on aggregate thanks to a 4-1 demolition in the second leg of the semi-final tie at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with Ferguson fielding a largely second-string side that had nine of 11 players missing from the side that took on Arsenal in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Ferguson said United will have no excuses should they come up short against Barcelona on May 28 at Wembley in what will be a rematch of the European final from 2009, and intimated he would be selecting the best team available to tackle the La Liga club.

“I think it will be a fantastic final. It is some weeks ahead and I hope we have everyone ready,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“The big advantage this time as opposed to two of our previous finals is that we have no players missing. In 1999 we missed Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, and in 2009 we missed Darren Fletcher. ”

“We’ve got everyone available this time and that does make a difference.”

“This is the best competition in the world, all the best teams are there. To get to the final is an achievement itself, but to win it is the ultimate.”

Having surpassed the challenge of Schalke in the semi-finals, Ferguson must negotiate what looms as a title decider on Sunday when they host Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Should United slip up, the Blues will move level on points with two games remaining in the season, putting in doubt whether Old Trafford will see any silverware this season after a treble was on the cards just last month.

If United take all three points or earn a draw, they would maintain a gap on Carlo Ancelotti’s men with fixtures against Blackburn and Blackpool to follow.

Adding intrigue to an already crucial clash is that Chelsea won at Old Trafford last season.

But Ferguson is confident history will not repeat on Sunday.

“The problem for us last year was emotional tiredness. The first half against Chelsea we didn’t play well and Chelsea were the better team (last season),” he said.

“This time, we are fresh, we have won this game, we are in the final at Wembley and we are going to go for it on Sunday.”