Victory at Chelsea on Saturday will nail the Premier League title by virtue of a far superior goal difference and the Reds defender is desperate to go into the European Cup semi-final crunch with Barcelona as unofficial champions.
It won't be ratified until a potential Stamford Bridge success is followed by another point against West Ham or Wigan in the final two matches of the League campaign.
The champagne will be on ice anyway with the Old Trafford shoot-out with Barca on Tuesday still to come.
Ferdinand, who captained the Reds in the Nou Camp, knows it's a huge four days on United's calendar and the return leg with Frank Rijkaard's Spanish side could determine how this United team are judged.
"It's obvious we want to win the game at Chelsea and fingers crossed we will do it," said the England defender.
"Then we can go into the Barcelona match fully focused on that. If we lose the game against Barcelona next week everyone will say we're not as good as people are saying.
Plaudits
"If we win we'll get the plaudits we deserve, if we don't we'll get the criticism we probably deserve.
"But we'll never be over- confident. I'm sure the stage is set for a fantastic tie. If you were a betting man it wouldn't be easy to put your money on anyone. We know that.
"The tie is not over. They're a very good passing side, if you're not focused for the whole 90 minutes and concentrating that whole time then I'm sure they'll find the gaps to score goals.
"But on Wednesday I thought every one of us defended resolutely. Getting the news that Nemanja Vidic was ill was a big disappointment because he has been fantastic this season.
"But I think it speaks volumes for the squad that Wes Brown came in and played centre half and Owen Hargreaves played right back and to keep a clean sheet under those circumstances against one of the most potent attacking forces in European football was very pleasing."
As for Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty miss, Ferdinand added: "You can forgive him that because he's had such a great season and has been there when we needed him.
"No-one has any hard feelings, nothing was said. He's had up and downs so I'm sure this is just another page in his story."
How do you think the two games will go - and who would you select for both? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Mr C., Chorlton, Manchester. (25/04/2008 at 09:24)
Demo, Glossop (25/04/2008 at 09:44)
lamps wont be playing cos his mum has died and drogba has had a poor season. i feel we can beat chelsea on saturday setting the way for tuesday night.
lets just hope we come out and impose our game on them the attacking, free flowing, passing team and score a few goals. unlike wednesday
I see the Stretford End Arising (25/04/2008 at 10:21)
Drogba having a poor season but still dangerous. Look what he did to Arsenal in ten inspired minutes.
Vidic has been classed a major doubt.
wayneold, manc (25/04/2008 at 10:22)
Mushhhty (25/04/2008 at 10:27)
Lord Ruud (25/04/2008 at 10:31)
A win would be great but on current form and with the team looking tired, and just having come back from Spain, a draw looks more likely.
tooth&claw, manchester (25/04/2008 at 11:01)
The news on Vidic is better but it's by no means certain he'll play. Rooney was clearly still suffering from his hip injury and others are carrying knocks too as you would expect at this stage of the season. Some of our players also don't seem to play two games in a row.
The choice for Fergie is whether to put out his strongest team for the two games and risk losing players for Tuesday or to put out a potentially weaker side at the Bridge and rest players for Tuesday.
SAF could play for a draw at Chelsea and rest Rooney and Tevez. It's a more immediate priority to beat Barca than to beat Chelsea. So I could see a line-up of VDS, WB Rio NV PE, DF OH MC RG, Nani, CR.
I don't think Chelsea are anything like the team of the last three seasons. They have lost the unity of purpose and many of their players are underperforming. I think we can at least get a draw.
bobbydazzler (25/04/2008 at 11:21)
Would'nt it have been nice to have a forward waiting in the reserves to fill in? You wont give a straight answer because that will contradict all that you stand for.
WE DONT NEED MORE STRIKER COVER WE HAVE GOAL SCORING OPTIONS ALL OVER.
Gillian England (25/04/2008 at 11:32)
a draw and then two wins esp against West ham !!!
TMUF, Manchester (25/04/2008 at 11:37)
I couldnt care less about what the Barca fans were saying and if I was in your situation I would say to them that they were playing at home, played well, and we played badly and they STILL couldnt beat us.
The confidence is in our camp as we know we can play a whole lot better (attacking wise) and are at home whereas Barca couldnt create many decent opportunties with all their posession.
Regarding Lahm, nothing has been decided yet, however if we were to win on Tuesday do you think he would be thinking,
Let me join the team who had alot of possession,
or
the team that were through to the final and possibly winning the double?
About the pyscholgical battle, it would be more conceivable to say that having lost at Roma last season and we all know what happened at OT!
If Monaco can pick themselves up and win against Madrid after losing 4-2 1st leg, or Deportivo beating Milan after trailing 4-1, then I'm sure it will not be the hardest of tasks to get the team feeling confident.
TMUF, Manchester (25/04/2008 at 11:51)
I think if anyone does need a rest then they will be rested 2morro, as we could lose against Chelsea and the title would still be in our control, and obiously we HAVE to win on Tuesday,
Alias Smith, over the moon (25/04/2008 at 11:52)
tedk, droylsden (25/04/2008 at 11:53)
Alias Smith, over the moon (25/04/2008 at 12:05)
Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (25/04/2008 at 12:06)
tooth&claw, manchester (25/04/2008 at 12:15)
But, I'll humour you. I would like to see Welbeck on the bench if Rooney is rested.
There. Happy now?
Eric Gibbon, Altrincham (25/04/2008 at 12:19)
Alias, I have a feeling that for the reason that we do not need to win, may just see us nick it and end that wretched record of theirs.
Barry Gardiner (25/04/2008 at 13:06)
If we do get silver this year it'll be a case of limping over the finishing line to get it - I WANT SOME ENTERTAINMENT PLEASE!!!
better off red (25/04/2008 at 13:16)
we may well lose tomorrow but it matters not, two wins out of three will do us proud. I reckon the big guns will be on the bench in the 1st half for both teams.
Be nice to see pique get a game again and give anderson a run-out along with nani.
I think 2-0 down at half time will bring on the big guns, otherwise I think they'll be rested till the end of the game.
And as for Tuesday, Barca will get annihilated.
VDS,
Brown, pique, evra, oshea,
anderson, park, nani, carrick, giggs,
tevez
More +ves please, semis of the CL, top of the PL, win the game on tuesday and we're in the finals. Anyone would think we're city with some of the comments on here; this is a great time to savour, enjoy it while fergie's still here.
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (25/04/2008 at 13:33)
Whilst i love away games, & can't wait for the trip i just can't see us getting anything. 100 games ffs, is not a record to be sneazed at & their german/machine like approach to every football game is just what our jaded/leg weary team could do without at the moment !
The mental & physical energy required in Wednesday's REARGUARD action may just catch up with us.
I sure hope not & hope i'm on here on monday with different feelings/comments to those of recent matches but something (recent performances) tells me there's a trend developing !!
tooth&claw, manchester (25/04/2008 at 13:50)
If we had a full, fit and fresh squad for these next two games I'd choose a different lineup and team. As it is I think that the Premier League have done a huge injustice to Chelsea and especially United by scheduling this match between semi-final legs. Utterly ridiculous.
Lord Ruud (25/04/2008 at 13:56)
tooth&claw, manchester (25/04/2008 at 13:58)
Don't know who's going to be fit but whoever it is, whatever formation and whether we park the bus or go for broke, I think we'll get something from the game. A 30 yard Fletcher screamer in the last minute to win it would do me.
bobbydazzler (25/04/2008 at 14:08)
T&c is advocating starting without rooney and tevez, so that means mark ronaldo out of the game and they will completley nullify the one chance we have of scoring. Unless our midfield finally fullfill their potential and actually score a goal or two.
My heart says united but some of our big players are running out of steam aka 2007. I just cant bear the thought of us not winning back to back titles.
Gerry, Glastonbury (25/04/2008 at 14:19)
I also think we’ll stuff Barca in the second leg. Should be a great week ahead, let alone, a final to look forward to.