The veteran Dutchman could complete an amazing 13-year gap between Champions League wins when he faces Chelsea on Wednesday.

Now firmly established as Manchester United's number one, Van der Sar has put an end to talk about Sir Alex Ferguson's goalkeeping ills.

But the 37-year-old freely accepts that when he accepted the challenge of moving to Fulham from Juventus in 2001, there appeared little prospect he would ever appear on such a grand stage again.

"Yes, when I signed for Fulham I probably did think I would not be involved in matches like this," he admitted.

"I went to watch Chelsea in the Champions League a couple of times and on one occasion in particular, I looked at Oliver Kahn doing his warm-up and thought 'I used to be doing that'.

"Believing I would have the opportunity of experiencing it again was something that never went away but at Fulham, I knew it would be very difficult."

What Van der Sar did not realise was that Sir Alex Ferguson, having moved too late in 1999 to acquire him from Ajax as Peter Schmeichel's replacement, had still not resolved his own goalkeeping conundrum.

After various options had been exhausted and more European frustration endured, Ferguson eventually went back to Van der Sar, even though he was 34 by the time he arrived at Old Trafford.

"Getting a move always depends on the opportunity," he said.

"Is there a big team looking for a goalkeeper? Is your age a problem? Do they think you're not good enough any more?

"Someone has to make the decision for you and think that you are the perfect player for their side.

"That's why I am grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson for giving me the chance."

Ferguson's judgement has proved to be spot on and although Van der Sar may suffer more muscular injuries that he did before and England's Ben Foster is ready to provide a stiffer challenge to his first-choice status next term, there was little doubt where the Scot's vote would be cast in the battle to be United's number one this week.

And, by turning out at the Luzhniki Stadium, Van der Sar's career will turn full circle, having appeared in a Champions League win for Ajax against AC Milan 13 years ago.

"Maybe in 1995 I felt I was going to get more opportunities," he reflected.

"Now I know my years are running out. I am going to play one or two more at the most, so I might as well take this chance."

How long Van der Sar remains part of Ferguson's new dynasty remains to be seen but he can certainly see parallels between what is happening at Old Trafford now with what happened in Amsterdam under Louis van Gaal all those years ago.

"Everyone was young. It was a great group of players coming together," he said.

"We also had a young manager but he got Frank Rijkaard to come back from Milan and take the pressure off us.

"It is a little like that at United now. When someone is not performing at their best, someone else takes over. That is what you want."

In making the long journey to Moscow, Van der Sar can reflect on a competition far tougher than the one Ajax were victorious in over a decade ago.

But while he accepts the achievement is so much greater, the veteran, who intends to quit the international scene at the end of Euro 2008, also feels something has been lost in widening it beyond the traditional entry of the champion team from each country on the continent.

"It is a different competition nowadays," he said.

"When I won it before only the champions could come in. Nowadays you get four from one country in the tournament and three in the semi-finals.

"That can be strange sometimes and maybe I liked it better when only the champions could enter.

"But I guess players want more money, so do the clubs, which is why the organisation is so well structured now.

"I am just really pleased to be in the final and have the chance of winning it again."