Rooney - United better now

In 2005 United crashed out to the eventual Champions League finalists after losing both legs 1-0 in the first knockout round, but Rooney - who made his debut in the competition that season - believes both he and his team-mates have come a long way since then.

"Since those games I've learnt a lot from playing with good players around me," he told United Review. "But it also helps just playing Champions League football regularly.

"Back then it was my first year at United and I was finding my feet in a lot of ways. But now I am settled and playing much better football. I just hope I can help us do well and help the team get through.

"We're a better team than two years ago. Then we missed too many chances, but I'm confident we'll take our chances tonight [Tuesday]."

United head into the game at Old Trafford in the throws of an injury crisis though, and just 13 players, including two goalkeepers, trained on Monday. The Red Devils have been particularly hard hit in defence, with Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre and Craig Cathcart all out of action, while Milan have just one doubt, over their Brazilian keeper Dida.