UCL 2011: Jose Mourinho to Share Intel on 'Barcelona Formula' with Alex Ferguson

According to Sonia Oxley, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is set to seek information with former rival Jose Mourinho on how to beat Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley after outplaying their German opponents in the semi-finals.

Jose Mourinho has faced Barcelona with both Chelsea and Inter Milan prior to his arrival at Real Madrid and has first hand experience and knowledge on the league leaders after a fiercely fought Clasico series that saw Barcelona edge out Real Madrid in the semi-final stage of the European competition.

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"We will depend on our own knowledge of Barcelona, it’s not like we’ve never seen them before. (But) you always take information from him (Mourinho) because he’s always helpful like that.”  - Alex Ferguson comments in a press conference.

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Alex Ferguson's rival, Pep Guardiola, was at Old Trafford watching Manchester United demolish Schalke 04 4-1 with a completely different side to the first leg, resting his players ahead of the all important league clash with second placed Chelsea at the weekend. 

Ferguson was seen smiling after United scored the opening goal, killing off any chances the Germans had of stunning the 2009 finalists.

Ferguson's Manchester United faced Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final at Rome where a Lionel Messi led Barcelona eased pasted the Red devils after over coming the first wave of pressure. 

This is the third final for Manchester United in four years and Ferguson is only the second man to lead his teams into as many as six European finals—one with Aberdeen and now five with United.