Barcelona biggest threat to Manchester United: Ferguson

New Delhi: The Red Devils' boss is being forthright about his team's priority this season, despite all the talk of a 'quadruple', and has identified the main threat to his plans.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been crystal clear about what he feels is the club's priority this season, and it is not capturing the Premier League to match Liverpool's record of 18 domestic titles.

Nor is it winnning domestic knockout competitions the League Cup, in which they face Tottenham Hotspur in the final next month, and the FA Cup, where they take on Derby County in the fifth round on Sunday afternoon.

There is only one priority for United this campaign, according to the tough-talking Scotsman: "The European Cup."

Speaking to The Manchester Evening News earlier, Ferguson was specific and reasoned in identifying his key targets for the rest of the season.

"There is an opportunity to draw level with Liverpool, but that is not my priority," he added.

"You look at our record in Europe and it should have been better.

"Nobody has successfully defended the Champions League. That is a great challenge to us. Hopefully, we can do it again."

Ferguson also feels that his side pose a genuine threat in the competiton, as he appears to think that United can more than match any potential continental opposition.

"Inter are a strong and powerful team," he added. "But we shouldn't have a problem experience and temperament-wise. If we can get an away goal we will have a marvellous chance of getting through. Barcelona are taking all the headlines this season. Their performance in the (Spanish) league has been absolutely outstanding.

"I think Barcelona are going to be the biggest threat if United are going to win the European Cup again this season."

And the Scot was bullish when assesing his own squad's capabilities, concluding, "I think in terms of having a complete squad, this is the best."

United travel to Milan for the first leg of their last-16 tie with Inter on February 24.

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