Wes Brown feels it's a case of the bigger, the better, in terms of opponents, while fellow former Red Danny Webber wants the opportunity of revenge against Sevilla, who knocked us out of last term's Europa League.

Journalists Ian Irving and Laurie Whitwell would be keen on a reunion with Barcelona, after we beat the Spanish champions in 2022/23, due to the exceptional atmosphere created in both legs of the play-off.

United clinched a return to Europe's premier competition with a third-placed finish in the Premier League and anticipation is already building ahead of the group stages.

"I like the bigger games," said Brown, who won the competition with the Reds in 1999 and 2008. "So let's have Barcelona again, or let's have PSG this time, as well.

"You know, anything like that. I mean anything that, you know, they are going to get up for a game, if I'm being quite honest. It's a great occasion for everyone, the whole club, and I just feel like on the day, we can match these teams and beat them. So the bigger games are always a little bit more interesting to me.

"You want to play the better teams and I just do feel that, when we play the better ones, something special comes out that night."

Webber is determined Erik ten Hag's side can set the record straight against Sevilla, as one of our bogey teams went on to win the Europa League, in order to earn a spot in the Champions League, despite a relatively disappointing season in La Liga.

"Of course, your big names, Barcelona and PSG, are always there," said the former Academy product. "One that sticks out for me, though, is Sevilla. Like, for revenge, after what happened last season. It's like no, let's put it right. Do you know what I mean? So we've got to put it right. It's something that lingers on. For me, it's like you're looking at that and you think let's put that one to bed.

"So it's Sevilla, for me. Although it's not a United versus Barcelona, it would put it to bed and put it the players' minds that that one is dealt with."

Whitwell, of The Athletic, commented: "Old Trafford, against Barcelona, was brilliant, wasn't it? I think that's a little bit what you're referencing [Wes], those kind of crucial moments where it's okay, yeah, come on, let's see what you're up to here. And they came through that particular game.

"So I think those kind of occasions are what you're after."

Premier League Productions reporter Irving has happy memories of the 2-1 win over Xavi's men that clinched a fabulous 4-3 aggregate triumph.

"That was the best moment of last season for me," he insisted. "Forget the [Carabao] Cup final, which was great, and I know a lot of fans would have had a brilliant day out at Wembley, or watching it at home. But the feel of Old Trafford that night, I remember coming out of the ground and actually going around to the press box for work, and just the look on people's faces and the jubilation. The way it felt to have beaten Barcelona, you know, and that is it.

"It might not be about winning the trophies just yet, but it's having those sort of nights and those sort of results.

"So bring on Barcelona, bring on Bayern Munich, PSG, whoever you want to bring."