Oxford United boss Chris Wilder believes Sir Alex Ferguson’s imm-ense experience and knowledge will greatly help Manchester United in tonight’s final against Barcelona.

Wilder attended the League Managers’ Association annual awards dinner in London last weekend when Ferguson was honoured with the manager-of- the-year award.

Should they beat Barcelona at Wembley tonight, the Scot would equal Bob Paisley’s record of three titles with Liverpool in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament.

Wilder says Ferguson will be tactically astute enough to know that Manchester United can not be gung-ho.

He said: “A lot of managers come and go, but I think Sir Alex is always one who sticks out in his values and how he sets the club up.

“He’s got his fingerprints on every aspect of the club, and he cares very deeply about Manchester United and protects it in every way he can – and does it in a classy way.

“He’s also humble and dignified. He took time out last year to give us a call on the eve of the play-off final and that was unbelievable.

“I know we have a connection at the club (Jim Smith is good friends with Ferguson), but that was still a fantastic gesture from him, and it really gave our players a big lift too.”

Both Manchester United and Barcelona have played some outstanding attacking football in reaching Wembley, the scene of the Catalans’ first Champions League success, and where Manchester United first won the European Cup, against Benfica in 1968.

“It’s going to be a fantastic final,” Wilder predicted.

“Manchester United will be positive, but Sir Alex will make sure they’re not gung-ho.

“Maybe they don’t have a Lionel Messi in their team, but they’ve got world-class players throughout.

“Both teams have got fantastic players, it might take a mistake or a piece of individual brilliance to separate them.”