Barcelona Ready for MU

"United are the defending champions, an unbelievable team, and have a coach with lots of experience. I expect them to sit back and challenge on the counterattack. We will attack, I expect a nice game – they have some good players and are a great team, but so are we."

- Pep Guardiola

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects his side and United to serve up an entertaining Champions League final in Rome.

The May 27 showpiece makes for a mouth-watering prospect as the current holders face the bookies' favourites to lift this season's title, and Guardiola expects United to be wary of his side's attacking resources.

"United are the defending champions, an unbelievable team, and have a coach with lots of experience," he told his post-match press conference. "I expect them to sit back and challenge on the counterattack, although I have to watch our semi-final with them last season and their recent games.

"We will attack, I expect a nice game – they have some good players and are a great team, but so are we. We're going to try to win and maybe we'll deserve to get the trophy."

Guardiola's preparations for Rome must factor in the absence of Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal through suspension, while Rafael Marquez misses out through injury, but he is unperturbed.

"We will have different players in the final, but we will play the same," he pledged. "(We will) play the ball, move the ball and try to score goals."