It’s been more than nine years since Manchester United last won the Champions League, beating Chelsea on penalties after their 1-1 draw in Moscow.While the Red Devils have reached two finals since then, the club have been nowhere near winning Europe’s elite competition in recent years.Of course, last season they won the Europa League but the season before they crashed out of their relatively easy Champions League group of PSV, Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow.But this season, United are hoping to compete for Champions League glory once again.They already look set to reach the last-16 stage of the competition with Jose Mourinho’s side beating Basel 3-0 and CSKA Moscow 4-1.If the Red Devils do win the competition in Ukraine in May, it will be club captain Michael Carrick lifting the trophy.Back in Moscow, though, it was Rio Ferdinand and the former defender was asked about that special moment during Premier League Tonight.Ferdinand, who was joined by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard explained how emotional he was - but was told to man-up by Nemanja Vidic.“Sir Bobby Charlton came down and started speaking to me about the history of it and what it meant for me, the captain, to go up those steps and lift the trophy,” Ferdinand explained.

“He said a few nice, kind words and then I saw my family on the other side and it just hit me. My lip started going and I started to well up a little bit and I remember Vida (Vidic) and said: ‘Rio, not here.’

“And I said: ‘Alright, sorry Vida.’”

Brilliant. 

That sort of comment from the Serbian sums up his attitude on the pitch.

Ferdinand on United's chances

But despite their impressive start to this season’s competition, Ferdinand doesn’t think United will emulate the success they had during the 2007/08 campaign.

"I think it’s wise for United to be humble when it comes to the Champions League," said Ferdinand.

"You can’t look at United or judge them compared to how they were 10 years ago, when we last won the Champions League.

"They’ve got to try to do that first and consolidate there, before you start looking at the Champions League and talking yourself up as one of the contenders. ‘Realistically, I don’t see United going as far as the semi-finals this season."