Ferguson seeks revenge on Real

Nursing A sense of excitement rather than cursing his luck, Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday looked forward to renewing an acquaintance with Real Madrid that is now in its fifth decade. The quarter-final draw may have deprived the Champions' League of what the Manchester United manager deemed a "dream final", but it also pitted "the biggest club in the world" against the one he conceded were "the most successful".

Since Real have won nine European Cups, compared with his own club's two, even Ferguson will be hard pushed to claim both titles for United before he finally steps aside. Yet it was such "fantastic" ties – along with the possibility that his team could today scale the Premiership summit for the first time in exactly a year – which he felt vindicated his decision to stay on a further three seasons.

"You live for moments like these," a relaxed, often jovial Ferguson said of the pairing with Real and possible semi-final against Barcelona or Juventus. "To go to the Bernabeu stadium and come away with a result is always an immense achievement. But when you get Real Madrid in the knock-out stages you're know you're at the business end of the game. Their Champions' League record is phenomenal. Their whole history is steeped in it."

Ferguson's reverence for Real stretches back to when Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Francisco Gento supplied the charisma and class provided for the current holders by Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo. As a teenager, striving to put a foot on the footballing ladder, he stood on the Hampden Park terraces and watched awestruck as Real overwhelmed Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 to lift the European Cup in 1960.

"And Eintracht had beaten Rangers 12-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals," he said, still incredulous after all these years. "They had scored six at Ibrox, which I don't think anyone else has done, so we looked on them as gods."

The romance and respect will be forgotten, however, as United seek to avenge defeat by Real at the same stage three years ago, when the enormous trophy rested at Old Trafford. "Everyone thought we'd got a good result in Spain, but I'm never comfortable with 0-0 away," Ferguson recalled. "In the second leg, after Roy Keane's own goal, we played with our hearts not our heads. We chased the game whereas we'd have got back in it if we'd been patient."

United, he ventured, were better equipped to meet such challenges since signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand and Juan Sebastian Veron, although the Argentinian, unlike Keane, will not be fit for the first leg against Real. "I think we've really improved and developed tactically; experience is the main factor in that. But Real are better, too. They've added some excellent players, and Raul is one of the world's best strikers."

"It would have been the dream final, but if you look at the teams left in – three Italian, three Spanish, ourselves and Ajax – it's not a bad mix of possible finalists. It's probably the best last eight there's ever been."

In the meantime, United's focus turns to the domestic front, where victory at home to Fulham this lunchtime would see them overtake Arsenal. While the champions would replace them if they beat Everton tomorrow, Ferguson acknowledged that the "psychological impact" of reclaiming the leadership could be substantial. "It won't do any harm, that's for sure. But the important thing is to get there. We must not be over-sure about our task because Fulham are a good side with a certain style."

The Scot's caution is not merely a reflection of his respect for Jean Tigana and his team. It stems partly from the memory of this weekend last year, when United were two points behind Arsenal, precisely as they are now. Middlesbrough promptly won at Old Trafford, the signal for Arsène Wenger's side to accelerate away.

"Mental strength will be important," Ferguson mused, playfully resisting attempts to coax him into questioning Arsenal's "bottle" though doubtless hoping Champions' League elimination may damage the morale of the Gunners and Newcastle besides easing their fixture congestion. Newcastle constituted "a grave danger, coming up on the inside rail" with Sunderland, Birmingham and West Bromwich in their final three games.

United, by contrast, face successive League matches against Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal early next month, a schedule into which they must now squeeze Real Madrid. "Exciting days," Ferguson said. "There will be difficult moments ahead, but you would rather have that than be languishing six or seven points behind.

"We've got this far by hard work so we mustn't throw it away. Perseverance is necessary to establish perfection – now there's a quote and a half for you."