Anderson: 'I had history of United at my feet, I was terrified to take penalty in Moscow shootout'

After the Premier League sides played out a 1-1 draw in Moscow in 2008, former United midfielder Anderson, 29, stepped up to put United 5-4 ahead after John Terry's infamous slip and miss that would have given Chelsea a 5-4 win.

Salomon Kalou and Ryan Giggs then converted to extend sudden death before Nicolas Anelka saw his penalty saved by Edwin van der Sar seconds later to hand Sir Alex Ferguson's side the club's third European Cup success.

"I came on to take the penalty. I hadn’t touched the ball," said Anderson speaking to local radio in Brazil.

"I was sitting on the bench, Giggs looked and said like this: 'Get Anderson to take one.' I said 'Oh my.' I was 20 at the time.

"The history of the club in my hands! I would not take it! I’m joking. I went. How couldn't I? I didn't touch the ball. I got there, Ferguson saying 'Come, come, come.' He put me in, the game finished and I said 'Oh my God.'

"I took the ball. It was the longest walk of my life. Even when I came from Azenha to Gremio, it was the longest walk I ever saw. I came with the ball, there is no way I wouldn't be shaking. I was already shaking. I was terrified. The story of a club, and our fans were on that side.

Anderson, who is on loan at Coritiba, revealed he practised with Van der Sar to improve his technique before the final.

"I trained with Van der Sar," said Anderson.

"Van der Sar has two metres. Van der Sar used to wait until the last second, he would only do it like this. I thought, if I do it, he’ll save it. I’ll have to put my foot through it.

"So I put my foot through it, the ball went in, I went there, I kicked again, the ball went in again. Just to be sure!"