The 66-year-old Scot is determined to get his hands on the trophy again after a nine-year absence that in his words "has left a void and a vacuum".

Not that Ferguson is fretting too much ahead of the showpiece match against Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

He said: "The one person who should not have nerves is myself. It is not as if this is my first European final.

"I have won the Champions League before as well as the Cup-Winners' Cup twice. Hopefully I will have the composure to help the players. You do not get to European finals too often and you have to relish the moment."

Ferguson, who revealed the club had opened negotiations with striker Carlos Tevez over a new contract, first tasted success at this level when Aberdeen won the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1983. He then went on to win the competition with United in 1991.

Eight years later, they triumphed in the Champions League with a famous victory against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in Barcelona.

Ferguson believes such is their rich history they should have won Europe's top club competition more than twice.

He said: "It has been a tremendous disappointment not to have gone to the final sooner.

"We have reached two semi-finals – against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan – and it leaves a void and vacuum in your life that is hard to explain. So we are delighted to be back.

"I have said many times that we have an illustrious history but there is weakness in terms of European trophies won. I hope we can go some way to putting that right tomorrow."

The weight of history does hang heavy in the air as they arrive in the final 50 years after the Munich air disaster and 40 years after their first triumph in the European Cup. It was an emotional victory for manager Sir Matt Busby, who nearly died in Germany, but went on to lead the team to glory 10 years later.

Looking proudly on will be a select group of people, who have been specially invited over by the club. Munich survivors Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Kenny Morgans and Bill Foulkes will be in attendance along with Sir Bobby Charlton, now a club director.

Ferguson is delighted the group could make it to Russia. He said: "I think there was an unexpressed vow by everybody at the club to pay proper respect to that team of 1958. I think it has been in everyone's mind.

"There is no question in my mind that the start of this great club was down to Sir Matt in terms of the courage. We are proud of the fact we are representing that history and we will not let them down."

Ferguson will name his team this afternoon, and also revealed the club's plans to discuss a new long-term deal with Argentine forward Tevez. With his loan spell up next summer, chief executive David Gill is in discussions with Tevez's representatives.

Ferguson said: "Part of the plan is to have Carlos at the club in the long term. There is no question we want him to stay.

"I think David Gill is progressing on that as best he can. One of the reasons we are here in Moscow and won the title is because of Carlos.

"He has that ability to score important goals for us, just like Eric Cantona used to do. Carlos has been a revelation for us and is a fantastic professional."