... but United's Edwin is so hellbent on stopping him.

Byline: DAVID McDONNELL

EDWIN VAN DER SAR is determined to rewrite history in Rome and make up for the biggest disappointment of his otherwise illustrious career.

Van der Sar was part of the Ajax side that failed to successfully defend their Champions League crown in Rome's Olympic Stadium in 1996, losing on penalties to Juventus.

For all his subsequent success, the Manchester United goalkeeper admitted he is still haunted by memories of that failure in the Italian capital 13 years ago. And that is why the 38-year-old is on a personal mission to ensure United become the first team to defend the European Cup in its current form - the Champions League - by beating Barcelona.

"I have tried to erase that memory," said van der Sar.

"I want to forget 1996 and just win it there with United.

"If we can win it again, it will be a great feeling for the team and for me personally. Let's hope I can put the record straight from last time."

Van der Sar is also aiming to join an exclusive club in his native Holland by making a successful defence of European football's elite club competition.

No team since Ajax in 1973 has successfully defended their domestic title and the European Cup - and van der Sar wants to be able to stand alongside them.

"For sure, that's the big talking point," said van der Sar.

"We will try to prepare as well as possible to face Barcelona. We know all the talk is about us winning it again, because nobody has managed to defend the Champions League. We just have to make sure we do it.

"Ajax were a legendary team in the 1970s, but if you win and succeed on a certain level for a long period of time, then you get a lot of recognition, which is what everybody wants.

"You want recognition for certain things that you achieve during your professional life, so if we can do it on Wednesday, it will be great."

Van der Sar was United's hero in last year's final against Chelsea in Moscow, saving the decisive penalty from Nicolas Anelka in a suddendeath shoot-out.

And he insisted he is happy to go through the agony of penalties once again if it means United emerging victorious against Barca.

"I just hope we win the game," said van der Sar."How we win it, I don't care.

We will do whatever it takes to win a prize like that again. "If it has to go to penalties, then it doesn't worry me."

Like his veteran team-mates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, van der Sar admitted this year's final could be his last chance to win the European Cup again.

as anything else, will be one of the chief motivating factors for the Dutchman when he takes to the field in Rome. And that, as much "I am aware of what it means at this stage of my career," said van der Sar.

"But when you are 23 you're also aware of the significance.

"Players know how hard you have to work to get there. And when you are there, you have to try your hardest to win it. You never know if another side will take over as the main team in Europe.

You don't know if you will be back again next season, so you have to make the most of it.

"I don't get nervous, although you do need a certain tension in the build-up. You train in the stadium on the Tuesday, look at the pitch and walk in the city the morning of the game.

"You just do the normal things you do before any Champions League game, although the final is obviously a lot bigger.

"You realise that when you see all the fans walking the route to the stadium with their colours and flags.

"Then you hear the Champions League music when you walk out with the team from the dressing-room and you know what's at stake."

Van keeps staying in fast lane..

VAN DER SAR FACT FILE

AGE: 38 BORN: October 29, 1970 in Voorhout, Holland

CAREER RECORD: 551 league appearances for Ajax (one goal), Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United; 190 appearances for Man

Utd CL CAREER RECORD: 81 appearances, nine this season

INTERNATIONAL RECORD: 130 caps for HollandHIGHS

MARCH 2009: Set a British record by going 1,311 minutes of Premier League football without conceding a goal

MAY 2008: Saved from Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka in the penalty shootout to win the Champions League for a second time

MAY 1995: Won Champions League with Ajax, defeating AC Milan in the final in Vienna

LOWS MAY 2007: Lost the first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley, failing to cut out Didier Drogba's winner for Chelsea

APRIL 2001: Replaced by Gianluigi Buffon as Juve's No.1 keeper after some high-profile errors. Eventually joined Fulham after a spell on the substitutes' bench

MAY 1996: Lost against Juventus in a penalty shootout in the Champions League Final in Rome. His error had led to Fabrizio Ravanelli's goal earlier in the match

CAPTION(S):

SAVIOUR Van der Sar was the hero last year and is ready to do it again in a shootout, if necessary DREAMING OF VICTORY Ace van der Sar targets another cup LOVE STORY The keeper aims to hold aloft the trophy again