Ferguson has told the current squad that they need to win more trophies before people will think of them as great.
"We are a long way short of winning the number of trophies enjoyed by the team of 1992-93 and 1993-94 that ended the league title famine and then scooped the Double. There are also the superstars of 1999 who won the Treble.
"To claim our present side is better than those two teams is a little premature.
"Potentially, they have the ability, determination and ambition to go on and match the daring deeds of those previous teams.
"The fact is our boys of today still have to deliver.
"If you are a great player then you need the cups and medals to prove it or you risk being tagged 'a nearly man'. I am sure that won't be the scenario."
Ahead of today's game he admitted he has one eye on Liverpool in December
"I think I can afford to make one or two changes against Sporting and have a look at youngsters such as Jonny Evans, but I won't be turning the team upside down," Ferguson said. "The fact that we play Liverpool four days after Roma next month is certainly one thing that we have looked at.
"Sporting need to get a result, but the desire to get the win that will give us options in Rome is important. Winning tonight will give us the opportunity to rest players if we want to. If we win, we have won the group and therefore can look forward to being seeded when the draw is made for the knockout stages. That's important."