Fergie: Millwall can stun Europe

Sir Alex Ferguson believes that whatever happens tomorrow, Millwall have the chance to make a major impact on Europe next season.

The Manchester United boss has been impressed by the determination of their Cup Final opponents and believes, if they show the same drive and ambition, that they could make the sort of mark in the UEFA Cup that smaller clubs such as Norwich and Ipswich once did.

"Obviously the UEFA Cup is going to be another step up in the level of play for them, but if they're ambitious and go for it, they could make that jump," said Ferguson, citing Norwich's fabled triumph in 1993-94 when they became the first English team to win away to Bayern Munich.

"Everything's possible if you have the ambition. If Millwall have that determination, they could build on their hard-core support and they've probably also got bigger potential than a lot of clubs from that part of London."

As he hunts for his fifth FA Cup triumph, Ferguson will take his lead from the first time he led them out in a final, against another London club, in 1990.

"I remember Crystal Palace had a few warriors in their team and they made it a bloody difficult day for us," said Ferguson, recalling how United escaped with a 3-3 draw thanks to Mark Hughes's heroics, before winning the replay.

"You've got to expect anything in the Final. We are on a hiding to nothing but then we always are.

"If we were playing Arsenal or Real Madrid and lost, we'd still get the same stick. It's maybe a matter of degree; maybe there'll be blood dripping off the print instead if it happens against Millwall."

He added: "It's simple. We can't afford to lose finals - or any games for that matter."