Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said Paul Scholes will be the first name on his teamsheet for the Champions League final.

Scholes missed out on United's only other final under Ferguson in 1999 as he was suspended, but nine years on will get a chance to make up for that disappointment.

The veteran midfielder's 25-yard blockbuster was the only goal in United's last-four tie against Barcelona, setting up an all-Premier League climax in Moscow next month.

Immediately after the game, Ferguson said Scholes would "absolutely" start the final, adding: "He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here."

The 32-year-old is no longer an automatic selection at Old Trafford due to the emergence of Brazilian teenager Anderson, but provided the key moment of a tight but compelling semi-final with just his second goal of the season.

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

Although Barcelona enjoyed over 60 percent possession and dominated a tense second half, Ferguson lavished praise on his players.

"We needed a fantastic performance - and we got one. I knew it was going to be a long night but I felt we could have scored three or four in the first half.

"It was a bit nervy in the second because they 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."

Alex Chick / Eurosport