Patrice Evra is confident Manchester United have the quality to better last season's Champions League semi-final appearance.

Although the France international was injured when United were crushed by AC Milan in the second leg of their last four clash at the San Siro in April, he felt the pain just as acutely.

A beaten finalist with former club Monaco, Evra is desperate to see his carved among those who have won European club football's greatest prize.

Although they have not hit anything like top form yet, United have already taken a significant stride towards reaching the knock-out phase, opening their Group F campaign with victories over Sporting Lisbon and AS Roma.

Four points from their forthcoming double-header with Dynamo Kiev should seal a place in the last 16 with two matches to spare and Evra is optimistic the Red Devils can advance much further than that.

"I don't like to make excuses for what happened last year but we did have a lot of injuries," said the full-back.  "This year, we have a strong squad, with a lot of experience and a lot of quality.

"That does not mean you win the Champions League but I am sure we have the ability to do better than last year.

"It is important for us to win it too. Whether it is this year, next year or whenever I don't know but I have been to the final once and I want to win it."

With Gabriel Heinze sold to Real Madrid, Evra is now firmly established as United's first-choice left back.

While his marauding qualities in attack often catch the eye, the 26-year-old is also a safe defender and his explosive pace means he rarely gets beaten for speed.

As an ever-present in all games apart from the Carling Cup debacle against Coventry, Evra can take as much credit as anyone for the Red Devils' superb defensive record.

With the exclusion of Coventry's Michael Mifsud, the last player to breach United's defences was Geovanni, whose deflected strike secured City victory in the Manchester derby on August 19th.

Eleven hours have elapsed since then, although it is just as well United's rearguard remains so solid given their continuing problems in the goalscoring department.

"The clean sheet is very good," he said.  "I know everyone talks about the four defenders and the goalkeeper but in actual fact, the first defenders are the strikers, so we all deserve credit.

"But I am proud that we don't concede goals. For a defender when you don't concede a goal it is as good as a striker scoring.

"Having said that, it would be easier for us all if we scored more. But I am not worried. That will come in the future."

United will now switch their attentions to the Premier League clash with Wigan, one of only two top flight games on Saturday.

In theory, the quirky fixture list offers Sir Alex Ferguson's men a chance to reach the summit for the first time this season, although it would require an improbable eight-goal win to overhaul free-scoring table-toppers Arsenal.

Instead, United will spy a sixth straight league win against opponents they have beaten on all five previous meetings, including the 2005 Carling Cup Final.

"We do look stronger than last year but Wigan is a big game for us now," he said.  "We must respect them and it won't be easy because it is a derby match but we are at home, we must win and we will be ready."  PA