LOSING MAKES YOU A WINNER

Ferguson has said that losing to Benfica last year will spur his young team on to do better in this season's Champions League.

"The teams who win in Europe are usually an average of 28-29 years of age," he pointed out.

"Over the years that has been the case. But Arsenal proved last year with a young team that it can be done. They surprised everyone. It was an exceptional year for them. They did very very well.

"There is no reason why it can't be done with a young squad. We have the ability and the desire to do it. We just have to make sure the concentration in big games is good because it is the concentration that is a problem for young players.

"I hope the side react like the team did in 1996. Experiences like Turin then and last year for this team help.

"Experiences like Lisbon last December can drive the message home more than I can say talking to them.

"We can only hope they have learned from it and this will be another stage in the development of the team.