Boss expects rollercoaster ride

"I don't like jumping ahead. If we can deal with Schalke, then we'll look at it but you don't care who you play in the final."

- Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson expects an emotional roller coaster as United face Schalke for the right to play in the 2011 Champions League final.

The Reds boss has experienced numerous last-four encounters since taking over at Old Trafford but still feels the pressure ahead of such huge encounters.
"Any semi-final you go into, you know it will be tough," said Sir Alex. "It's not easy for either side but we hope we can progress.
"You're always apprehensive at this stage of the competition. We had this when we've played semis in the past - Juve in 99, Barca in 2008. The second leg, the last 20 minutes at Old Trafford, was agony.
"You go through the gamut of emotions in semi-finals because they're never easy."
Schalke certainly impressed the boss when he flew to Germany to watch their second leg success against Inter Milan.
"Schalke never looked like losing against Inter," he explained. "That's quite a credit to them when you consider the experienced side they were up against. They were in control and made a good impression on me when I was here.
"Germans have a self-determination. It's reflected in how the German people approach all sports. There's similarity with the English and Scottish!"
The manager refused to discuss whether he would prefer to play Real Madrid or Barcelona at Wembley.
"I don't like jumping ahead," he asserted. "If we can deal with Schalke, then we'll look at it but you don't care who you play in the final."