• Champions League final

United must be ruthless - Owen

ESPN staff
May 26, 2011
United must be ruthless - Owen

Michael Owen feels it is imperative Manchester United take their chances against Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final.

The Red Devils will face the Spanish champions for the second time in three years in European football's showpiece club event. In 2009, United were beaten by Barcelona in Rome - with the Spaniards full value for their 2-0 victory.

However, United did carve out chances in a bright opening 15 minutes and Owen feels the key to victory at Wembley is turning those opportunities into goals.

"We try not to speak about Rome too much, to be honest," Owen, who was not at Old Trafford at that point, told the club's official website. "We don't want any negative thoughts going through our minds. We're just focusing on what we do best and how we can play against Barcelona.

"But what I will say is that if you look at the game in Rome, we were outstanding in the first 15 minutes. If we'd scored a goal it would have been a different game. We have to make sure we score that goal this time."

Owen feels the top two teams in Europe have made it to Wembley, setting up the "ideal" final.

"It's a cracking game," Owen said. "If you look at European football then you'd say it's the ideal final. I think the purists and the neutrals would probably say Barcelona and United are the best two teams in Europe right now. It's the perfect final."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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