The 2011 Champions League final was a humbling experience for Manchester United.

Barcelona played Sir Alex Ferguson’s side off the park, cruising to a 3-1 victory at Wembley Stadium.

This was Barcelona at the peak of their powers.

Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka style was working to perfection, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta pulling the strings in midfield and Lionel Messi scoring goals for fun.

Ferguson’s words at full-time said it all.

“In my time as a manager, it’s the best team we’ve faced,” the Scot said.

“Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think another way.

How Ferguson reacted

"No one has given us a hiding like that.

“It’s a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”

Ferguson’s central midfield that day featured Michael Carrick and an ageing Ryan Giggs; after watching Xavi and Iniesta run the show, he wanted more.

And Jamie Redknapp has revealed that Fergie got on the phone to then-Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp to enquire about Luka Modric’s availability.

“The day after Manchester United lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley in 2011, my dad received a call from Sir Alex Ferguson,” Jamie Redknapp wrote in his Daily Mail column.

“He wanted to sign Luka Modric.

“Xavi and Iniesta had raised the bar for midfielders. The best had to be players who could take the ball off either foot, dribble and pass through the lines.

“Having seen just how impressive those two were against United, Sir Alex identified Modric as the player to take his team forward.”

Ferguson was unable to secure Modric and the Croatian would join Real Madrid in 2012.

Modric initially struggled in Spain - he was voted La Liga’s worst signing of the 2012-13 season - but he quickly turned it around.

The 32-year-old has played an integral role in Real Madrid’s dominant European streak and many now consider him to be the finest midfielder on the planet.

That includes Redknapp.

“When your team are under the cosh, there is no better player to handle the pressure,” Redknapp added.

“Modric is always willing to receive the ball and will keep hold of it to take the sting out of the game. That is the mark of a brave player.

“For many years Modric has been on top of his game. Right now, he is the best midfield player in the world.”

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