Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his burning desire to lead Manchester United to Champions League glory this season and emulate the club's European Cupwinning heroes of 1968 and 1999.
Sir Alex Ferguson has repeatedly claimed, with some justification, that a club of United's history, stature and vast resources should have more than two European Cups to their name.
And after inspiring United to a 2-0 win at Roma - which all but secured their semi-final place - Ronaldo echoed his manager, declaring his aim to deliver the continent's greatest club prize to Old Trafford for a third time.
Ronaldo was 14 and an aspiring youth player with Sporting Lisbon back in 1999 when United last won the Champions League to clinch the unprecedented Treble.
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And watching re-runs of the Sir Alex Ferguson has repeatedly claimed, with some justification, that a club of United's history, stature and vast resources should have more than two European Cups to their name.
And after inspiring United to a 2-0 win at Roma - which all but secured their semi-final place - Ronaldo echoed his manager, declaring his aim to deliver the continent's greatest club prize to Old Trafford for a third time.
Ronaldo was 14 and an aspiring youth player with Sporting Lisbon back in 1999 when United last won the Champions League to clinch the unprecedented Treble.
And watching re-runs of the dramatic 2-1 win over Bayern Munich on United's television station MUTV has given Ronaldo all the inspiration he needs to lift the famous trophy himself.
"Many times on television I've watched United winning the Champions League in 1999," said Ronaldo. "It looked incredible and it's something I want to do as well.
"I was only young at the time, but since then I have watched the match time and time again on TV at my home in Manchester and thought about winning it myself.
"I agree with the manager that United should have won it more than twice. This is a fantastic club with great players and great fans. It's the biggest club in the world.
"We have the players to win the European Cup this year, we have the experience and we have the team. So we must have a great chance.
"It's a fantastic competition and it would be such a great experience to win it. Every one of the lads wants to win the Champions League and go down in history at United."
On current form, with their swashbuckling attack led by Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, and their formidable defence marshalled by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, United are arguably the best side in Europe.
Certainly, they are hitting their peak at just the right time, when the big prizes loom into view and the true test of a team's ability to handle the unique pressure of winning more than one trophy is applied.
Such is the confidence flooding through United's players right now, Ronaldo felt sufficiently emboldened to claim that there is no better team in Europe than Fergie's men when they are in full flow.
"Maybe we are the best team in Europe at the moment," said Ronaldo. "But we must not forget Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona are still in the tournament.
"Even so, we are in a very good position right now. To win 2-0 at a big team like Roma is a very, very good result and puts us almost in the semi-finals. And the lads know that if we carry on like this we have a great chance of winning the Champions League."
After netting his 36th goal of the season in Rome's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night, Ronaldo looks certain to become only the third player in United's history to reach the 40-goal mark in a single campaign.
With six games left in the Premier League and potentially another four in Europe if United go all the way to the final in Moscow, it is hard to see Ronaldo failing to break the 40-goal barrier.
But rather than reflect on personal glory, Ronaldo praised the collective strength of United's side, who have come a long way since they failed to make it out of the group stage in December 2005. "I think the team has improved every year since then," he said.
"At the moment the team is brilliant, everyone is so confident. I feel the team is more mature and I'm more mature, too.
"If we can carry on like this in Europe, we'll be in a great situation.
I'm very happy to score important goals, but you must remember it's my team-mates who give me the passes.
"We know that there is a big difference between the Champions League and the Premier League. But the way we are playing right now, we feel we can win both of them."
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