Vidic ready to win at all costs

Nemanja Vidic is sure Manchester United will beat Barcelona in the Champions League final - and does not care about the style in which they do it.

Wednesday's match in Rome pits holders United against the team regarded as the most attractive in Europe this season.

But United defender Vidic, 27, told BBC Sport: "All that matters is the result, you'll quickly forget about the style.

"Football is not about the style - it's about the winning and we have the confidence and belief to do it."

The Serbia international added: "I don't think we are arrogant - we respect Barcelona but we believe in ourselves and in the players we have. "We won the league and have reached the Champions League final so we have to believe we can win it. We know it's going to be a hard game and have big jobs to do but we are excited and we will try to hurt them."

Unlike Vidic, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded he would like to win in a manner that will earn his team plaudits and insisted: "We have our own style and hope we can express ourselves the way we want to on Wednesday."

The Scot acknowledged that with the opposition being Barca many fans would expect an attractive final and he hoped United could play their part in delivering that.

"Football is always needing a boost," he said. "We have negatives in the game that surface every year in all different ways.

"But when we get a game of football that paints the real story of football then we're all lifted by it. I think Barcelona and Manchester United can do that in this final.

"There is a strong possibility it will be a very good final."

Barca have scored 104 league goals this season, setting Spain and Europe alight with their unique brand of attacking football. It has taken them to within touching distance of becoming the first club to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and European Cup in one season.

At times this season Pep Guardiola's side have looked unstoppable, not least during their 6-2 demolition of title rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, but Ferguson said Chelsea's semi-final performance against the Catalans gave him reason to be cheerful.

The Blues held Barca to a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and in the second leg, a dominant performance resulted in Chelsea entering stoppage time 1-0 up before the visitors equalised to go through on away goals.

"I watched their game against Real Madrid and it was an absolutely magnificent performance," stated Ferguson.

"I said to myself, 'Christ, we might have to play them' but then Chelsea showed that they can be beaten so I take some encouragement from that."

United have won three, lost two and drawn four of their nine previous meetings with Barca.

The pair met at the semi-final stage last season, playing out a 0-0 draw in the first leg before a spectacular strike by Paul Scholes gave United a 1-0 win in the return.

Ferguson's men went on to beat Chelsea in the final and are bidding to become the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles.

Victory would mean United would join Real Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Ajax in the group of clubs to have won four or more European Cups.

"I'm well aware of how special it is but sometimes it's more about getting the job done than and the small details of winning the game over what surrounds the occasion," commented United midfielder Michael Carrick. "People keep mentioning about winning it twice along with the league and everything else. Hopefully on Thursday we can sit back and appreciate it but until then it really is about getting the job done and winning the game."

Carrick was pleased to see Barca edge past Chelsea to reach the Rome showpiece and set up a meeting with United, who beat Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.

"I wouldn't say I'm glad it's not Chelsea but now that it's Barcelona it really feels like it's a special European final," said the 27-year-old. "They are a massive club and have something special about them.

"To meet them at this time as well - with both of us at the top of our leagues - the time is right for a good game of football and a real test for both teams.

"We're confident for the same reason as them. Of course we respect them and appreciate the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta - they're special players and there's no doubt about that.

"But we're good enough to win, we've been there, we're the champions and we've done it before. That gives you enough confidence to believe you can do it again."