US Edition The Scot has spent the last two weeks training his side in two possible formations; one being a 3-4-3 formation to use if United find themselves chasing the game.
He has also asked winger Nani to mimic Lionel Messi in practice sessions, as he attempts to concoct a plan to contain the World Footballer of the Year.
Since securing a record 19th domestic league title with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn on May 14, Ferguson’s first-team squad has focused solely on finding a way to overcome Pep Guardiola’s Spanish champions.
Although United faced Blackpool at Old Trafford in the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday, preparations for that fixture were minimal due to the hours spent on the training pitch plotting to beat Barcelona.
Following the 2-0 defeat in Rome two years ago, when Cristiano Ronaldo complained that ‘‘the tactics were not good and everything went wrong for us’’, Ferguson repeatedly insisted that he knew the reason for United’s downfall.
The manager, who has never publicly revealed his thoughts on the decisive factor in his team’s defeat, admitted last week that Rome has been ‘‘analysed many times’’.
Part of that process has involved the players watching the game in full in the video suite at Carrington as Ferguson and his coaches have moved to ensure that United cannot use lack of preparation as mitigation for defeat this weekend.
Ferguson has yet to inform his players of his starting XI for Wembley, but the Scot is understood to have settled on his selection, with Fabio da Silva expected to start at right-back and Michael Carrick holding off a late challenge from Darren Fletcher to play in midfield.
But the tactical blueprint for Wembley is now in place following the detailed training sessions that have included 11-a-side practice games between the first team and squad members lining up as Barcelona.
With Ferguson wary of Barcelona’s slick passing game, and the goal threat of Messi, Portuguese winger Nani has performed the ‘Messi’ role in training, replicating the Argentine forward’s movement in the final third of the pitch.
Michael Owen has also been asked to play as David Villa, Barcelona’s £34 million striker who enjoys cutting in from the left flank, while Paul Scholes has performed as the Spanish playmaker Andrés Iniesta.
And while United have worked at length on a 4-4-2 formation with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernández as the focal point of the attack, a plan is also in place to move to 3-4-3 should Barcelona take a lead and leave United chasing the game in the second-half.
Chris Smalling, set to be named on the substitutes’ bench on Saturday, has trained as the third man at the back alongside Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
The former Fulham youngster would likely replace Ji-sung Park, with Fabio and Patrice Evra advancing into midfield behind a front three of Rooney, Hernández and Antonio Valencia.
When losing 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates in the Champions League’s last 16 in February, Barcelona visibly tired in the final 20 minutes of the game, a factor noted by Ferguson and his backroom team.
Guardiola’s comparative lack of rotation of players has also led to suspicions that Barcelona’s key players will arrive at Wembley and perform on a traditionally taxing pitch having endured a more physically demanding season than many of their top level rivals.
Barcelona remain favourites on Saturday, but Ferguson insists that United will not be fazed by facing a team currently billed as one of the greatest club sides of all-time.
“It is not good tactics to go into how good Barcelona are and show trepidation or apprehension about it,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think that is our way.
You have to face every hurdle as it comes along.” “We have experience of playing Barcelona. We knocked them out in the semi-final and then lost the final to them in Rome the following year.
“’The amazing thing about Barcelona is that they very rarely change their team. It is a fantastic feat when you consider all the games you play nowadays.”