Rio Ferdinand has conceded he felt embarrassed after Manchester United lost the 2011 Champions League final to La Liga giants Barcelona.
Goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa saw Pep Guardiola’s team run out 3-1 winners at Wembley, with the Red devils striking through Wayne Rooney.
Barcelona’s side that campaign is widely regarded to be one of the best ever, with the midfield trio of Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at their peak.
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Ferdinand and United had faced Barcelona in the final two years previous and lost – and the defender knew all about Messi after his stunning header in that match.
“Messi was a killer,” Ferdinand told Copa90. Ronaldinho was unreal, the free-flowing magician. But with Messi, he’d do all of that but there was always a goal or an assist at the end of it.”
Ferdinand revealed a conversation with Manchester United icons Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes after the 2011 showpiece, Barca had dominated the match throughout to claim their second European title in three years.
“Barca gave us an absolute lesson at Wembley,” Ferdinand added.
“I was standing there watching them lift the trophy and me, Giggsy and Scholesy were standing together with our hands over our mouths and I said: ‘I feel embarrassed lads’. He [Messi] took liberties.”
Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the Champions League in 1998-99 and 2007-08, was left with no doubts as to which club was the superior between both.
“They’re the best in Europe, no question about that,” he said at the time.
“In my time as a manager, I would say they’re the best team we’ve faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that.
“It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think another way. No one has given us a hiding like that.
“But how long it lasts, whether they can replace that team at some point… they certainly have the right philosophy, but it’s always difficult to find players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi all the time.”
