Patrice Evra refuses to contemplate third Champions League final defeat

Patrice Evra is refusing to contemplate a third Champions League final defeat.

Although Evra was part of the victorious Manchester United side in Moscow three years ago, the France full-back has experienced more disappointment than joy at the end of the biggest club game on the planet.

In 2004, his Monaco side were defeated by Jose Mourinho's Porto, while five years later he was part of the United team who were put in their place by Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

And as he prepares for a rematch with the Catalans at Wembley on Saturday, losing is something Evra cannot bear to think about.

"I am not allowed to lose another Champions League final," he said.

"If I played in four finals and only won one it would be difficult to keep playing in the Champions League. Maybe I would have to ask the manager not to play me in Europe again!

"I have to win this one. It is important to keep Manchester United on top of the world."

That is exactly where they would be on the basis Barcelona are generally regarded as the best team on the planet.

Yet it is Inter Milan's crown that will be competed for at Wembley, just as it will be United - rather than Barcelona - who will be playing their third final in four years.

Throw in four Premier League titles in five seasons and it is easy to see why some members of the United camp are getting irritated by the lauding of their opponents.

Not Evra, though, who considers the events in Rome to be a product of United's own over-confidence.

"Rome was a bad feeling," he said. "I am honest, I was confident in Italy. Maybe too confident. I thought we were going to win.

"Everyone says Barcelona are the best team in the world now. I respect that.

"But two years ago everyone said we were going to beat Barcelona easily in Rome. Maybe the opposite will happen this time."

If it does, Evra knows it will eclipse the celebrations at Old Trafford last Sunday when United won a record 19th championship.

He accepts the Premier League is one of the biggest prizes in the game, but the Champions League is different.

"The Champions League is the biggest trophy," he said. "Everybody in the world wants to win it.

"The Premier League title is very important of course. Winning the title is very difficult and it makes me very proud to know I have won it four times. But the Champions League is something different.

"The night of a Champions League game is magic and I can still remember the feeling when we won.

"But to lose is a very bad feeling. I don't want it to happen again."