United facing the acid test in Madrid, says Fergie

Alex Ferguson has admitted his new Manchester United side face their “acid test” in the Bernabeu Stadium tonight.

Two seasons ago, in their third Champions League final in four years, United were comprehensively swept aside by Barcelona.

Many of the faces remain — only Edwin van der Sar and Fabio of the team that started that 3-1 defeat have left Old Trafford, but new blood has been injected in the form of David de Gea, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young.

Most importantly of all, Robin van Persie arrived to give United the additional firepower required to compete at the highest level. And tonight against Real Madrid, Ferguson will find out if they are the real deal.

“Our team is capable of winning the Champions League,” said Ferguson. “There is a great spirit about them.

“People keep saying we’re not as good as past United teams but then sometimes we get foggy impressions about the past. I do so myself at times.

“But this team doesn’t know when it is beaten, which is a great quality. The acid test is tomorrow. It’s unfortunate we’re meeting this early. I wish it had been at Wembley. But we can’t think of failing. We have to get through if we are to win this trophy.”

The presence of Van Persie ensures Madrid will spend as much time fretting about what their opponents can do as United must on how they intend to stop old-boy Cristiano Ronaldo. Van Persie scored his 23rd goal of a stellar debut campaign against Everton on Sunday, and whilst doubt may persist over the precise make-up of Ferguson’s team, there is none over the Dutchman’s presence.

“Robin is approaching the level of Ronaldo and Messi,” said Ferguson.

“His arrival at our place has been nothing but sensational. Twenty-three goals tells you everything.”

Van Persie clearly cannot do all the work on his own. Wayne Rooney, depicted as a hooligan by the Spanish media yesterday, must also shoulder his responsibilities, whilst United’s defence are bound to be extended by Ronaldo’s remarkable talents, which Ferguson admits have improved since his £80million departure in 2009.

“Cristiano is a better player than when he left us because of his maturity,” said Ferguson. “He is at the peak of his career now.

“You can see how he has flourished in Madrid. “I knew he’d improve. I knew he was one of the best players in the world. But to score the goals he has is phenomenal.”

Two years after Ronaldo left Manchester for Madrid, David de Gea made the opposite journey, coming from Atletico Madrid. Castigated at times for bad mistakes, De Gea remains Ferguson’s first choice.

De Gea insists he has improved since his £18m arrival from Atletico Madrid. And whilst United arrived in Madrid with an almost fully-fit squad, De Gea was well placed to assess the damage caused to Real by Iker Casillas’ hand injury.

“Every time Iker Casillas is not there he is a great loss,” said De Gea.

“He is the captain of Real Madrid and Spain... it is still a great loss.”