World Of Sports

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes Liverpool complete the Champions League final line-up - if only to ensure more tickets for Manchester United.

Paul Scholes goal against Barcelona ensured United will contest their first final in nine years at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on 21st May.

But while Ferguson things it would be fitting to face Liverpool, he is aware the Russian roots of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich may make tickets harder to come by if the Londoners make it through.

"Maybe we will get more tickets against Liverpool because Roman Abramovich seems to have bought them all up," said Ferguson ahead of Wednesday's semi-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge.

"It would be a nice final against Liverpool but I really don't care."

While Ferguson has been saying for too long now United's record at the top level of European combat should be better than it is, for Scholes in particular it was a sweet achievement.

Suspended in 1999, it seemed the midfielder, like Roy Keane, would never get a chance to compete for the biggest prize in the club game.

"It is great for Paul to be in the final," said Ferguson. "It was a fantastic goal.

Performance

"I don't think you can expect him to score 10 or 15 goals a season like he used to but when he gets one like that it makes up for the ones he can't score."

Ferguson is hoping there will be an immediate pay-off in terms of United's performance against West Ham on Saturday.

Having seen their lead at the top of the Premier League whittled down to goal difference following the defeat at Chelsea, the Red Devils needed a lift.

And even though injured duo Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney may struggle to make it, Ferguson feels confidence in the Old Trafford camp will have been raised.

"It is a big boost for Saturday," he said.

"It won't do us any harm that's for sure. The energy in the team was excellent. The question is how do we get that back into them?

"It was a bit nervy in the second half because Barcelona had to have a go at 1-0 down. But we got through that spell and in the last 15 minutes, I didn't think they made any chances.

"It was emotional at the end but you expect that at a semi-final. The important thing is that we are there and we deserve to be there."