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Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal says he is "jealous" of Manchester United's quality and discipline – but that the German giants can still rise to the occasion in the European Champions League quarter-finals.
Van Gaal said his players could cause a shock when United travel to Munich for the first leg of a match that evokes memories of the English champions' late win in the 1999 final.
Then, the Reds were the underdogs as Bayern held a 1-0 lead until injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer took the trophy to Old Trafford for the first time since 1968.
Bayern have since dwindled and talismanic winger Arjen Robben is a major doubt for Tuesday, when Lyon also host Bordeaux before Arsenal face Barcelona and Inter Milan play CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
Marauding Rooney
But Dutchman Van Gaal said his side could match United and the marauding Wayne Rooney – if only for this one meeting.
"We can surprise every team, I believe that," he said.
"Bayern are not yet a top level team like Manchester but we can achieve that level for a game."
Van Gaal said Robben would not play unless he was fully fit, after picking up the injury in their 2-1 defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday.
"I think we have to be careful with a player who makes so many dribbles with such intensity in one game," he said.
United forward Rooney has scored 33 goals so far including four in his last two Champions League matches.
"I think that Rooney is difficult to contain but maybe we can do that as a team. We have to do it as a team," van Gaal said of the 24-year-old.
"Wayne Rooney is a super player and when he was younger I wondered if he had vision in his game.
"He has developed that and that makes a player a great player. He has this vision now."
Van Gaal feels if Bayern match Manchester's on-pitch discipline they are in with a fighting chance.
"I am jealous of this discipline and if we have that tomorrow we have taken a big step forward," he said.
Henry to face Gunners
Barca star Thierry Henry has been confirmed in the squad to face his old club Arsenal.
Henry has not faced Arsenal, where he spent eight successful seasons, since he joined the Spanish giants in June 2007.
The Frenchman had played against Barca in losing the 2006 final.
With the Arsenal game in mind, Henry was rested in Saturday's 1-0 win at Real Mallorca along with Gerard Pique, Xavi and Lionel Messi, who has scored 11 goals in his last six games in all competitions.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss the tie with a thigh injury.
Inter Milan face the rare prospect of using their first leg against CSKA Moscow to boost their flagging domestic confidence – rather than the other way round.
The Italian champions were imperious in eliminating Chelsea in the last 16 with a 1-0 win in London but their Serie A form has been poor.
It was all very different in the last three years when Inter were powering ahead in Italy while struggling to impose themselves in Europe.
"Playing every three days isn't easy but our desire to win is stronger than the tiredness," Inter's leading scorer Diego Milito said ahead of the San Siro clash.
"Every match is hard and we mustn't underestimate anyone. We just have to think about ourselves."
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