Fergie: Losing two finals doesn’t make a ‘golden era’ for us

ALEX FERGUSON insists Manchester United cannot look back at the last four years as a golden period for the club in the Champions League — because they were beaten by Barcelona in two of the three finals they reached.

The record books may show the current spell to be United’s most successful ever in Europe, but Ferguson insists they need to take that final step and win the Champions League trophy outright again in order to make such a claim.

United will resume their European campaign at home to Basle tonight — when they will be without leading strikers Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez due to injury — with Ferguson insisting his players need to strive for even better.