Ferguson hails Scholes winner

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Scholes was suspended for the famous final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 and, like Roy Keane, it looked as though the midfield maestro would end his career without getting another shot at European club football's biggest prize - but the 32-year-old lashed home the 14th-minute winner to put United through to the final in Moscow on May 21.

"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."

It was only Scholes' second goal of the campaign and his first in Europe for over 18 months but it means so much to a club Ferguson is convinced has not punched its weight in Europe for too long.

And the Scot is content that while his side endured a few nervy moments, ultimately they deserved to go through.

He added: "We needed a fantastic performance here - 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."