Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has admitted that he was “too confident” ahead of the 2009 Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome.
The Spanish side won that final 2-0, and the Frenchman now acknowledges that he expected to win that game.
He said: "I am honest. I was confident in Italy. Maybe too confident.
"It hurt so much when we lost. We did the team pictures the following season. We had three trophies. But we were missing the one with the big ears."
The Red Devils won the Premier League, the Carling Cup and the World Club title but Evra was pining for the European Cup.
The defender has now lost two Champions League finals, one with Monaco in 2004, and won one, against Chelsea in 2008, so he is experienced enough to “respect” the threat the La Liga champions pose.
"Everyone says Barcelona are the best team in the world now. I respect that.
"But, two years ago, everyone said we were going to beat Barcelona easily in Rome. Maybe the opposite will happen this time.
"Barcelona are very good at keeping the ball but football is not about keeping the ball, it is about scoring goals."
Edwin van der Sar, who will be playing his last game as a professional at Wenbley said: "You do think more about things you lose than what you win," said Van der Sar. "When you have won, your medal goes into the cupboard or the safe in the bank.
"But when you lose, you know something has slipped through your fingers. It makes you more determined.
"If we win, I won't want to go home. If I lose, I won't want to leave home. Maybe it sounds strange but I just wouldn't want to see anyone.
"I played a few years at Fulham and remember watching Chelsea's Champions League matches against Bayern Munich and Barcelona and thinking it would be great to be playing those kind of games again.
"Thankfully I have managed to do that at United and it is nice that my final match should be on an occasion such as this."