Two years ago Manchester United lost 3-0 at San Siro in a semifinal with AC Milan. It was a massively underwhelming performance in which star player Ronaldo was marginalized.
This time Ferguson believes the Portuguese winger has developed sufficiently to be able to dominate the match.
"I think my team is mature enough and I think Cristiano Ronaldo is mature enough. Two years ago against AC Milan you saw the immaturity of the boy, but he is a different player now."
Meanwhile midfielder Stankovic said he believes a win over the reigning European champion would give Inter the confidence to go all the way in Europe's premier club competition.
Inter made hard work of qualifying from the Champions League group stage, finishing second behind Panathinaikos and losing matches at home to the Greek side and Werder Bremen.
Stankovic believes that he and his teammates need to develop a winning mentality in Europe if they want to defeat a United side that has won 10 consecutive matches.
"Only the head (has been the problem). By that I mean the right approach to the key matches," Stankovic said. "Now is the moment to rewrite the script."
"With Inter I have won nearly everything, but I don't want to finish without having gone beyond the Champions League quarterfinals because we have the potential to make it to the end. Overcoming Manchester United will give us the belief to aim for the final."
The Serbian international also said that Inter needs to capitalize on the absence of his international teammate Vidic.
"I know Vidic well and he has played a big part in (Edwin) van der Sar being unbeaten for so long. His absence will be felt as he is one of the three best defenders in the world."
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily Feburary 24, 2009)
