A Ryan Giggs brace, a late Ole Gunnar Solskjaer strike, plus a "world class" finish from Juan Veron smashed the Greek hopes of ending a 20-match run without an away win in Europe and showed Arsene Wenger’s all-conquering Gunners there is more than one club capable of mixing it with the continent’s finest.

“If we get our own form right and play to our capabilities, everything is there for us. There is no question in my mind about that,” said Ferguson.

“Generally our form has been good but one area we have been concerned about was the finishing. It cost us against Bolton and Leeds and those defeats were a bitter pill to swallow.

“Things can happen for us because that is the kind of game we are in. Crazy things occur but I just hope we can get our form right.”

Veron reaching his potential would be a major move in that direction.

The Argentine has been roundly criticised throughout his turbulent stay in England and has been blamed for wrecking the United midfield which brought them three successive titles.

However, last night he gave the Old Trafford faithful a glimpse of the talent which persuaded Ferguson to snatch him from Lazio last summer.

Apart from a superb all-round performance, he also scored a goal which will live long in the memory.

Racing onto David Beckham’s return pass at full pace after 25 minutes, Veron produced the most delicate of 20-yard chips to leave Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos stranded.

He did something similar in a pre-season romp over Parma at the beginning of August, but Ferguson admitted the repeat show, in a competitive clash with the pressure applied, will take some beating.

“That was world class,” he said. “You will not see a better goal than that in Europe tonight.

“He is not a renowned finisher but you can only admire something like that.

“It took some audacity just to try it. A lot of players would have blasted it or taken it round the goalkeeper. He took the difficult option of chipping him. It was a phenomenal bit of skill.”

With Giggs and Paul Scholes also excelling, it was too much for Olympiakos to handle.

Scholes in particular is showing encouraging signs that he is at last about to fulfil his manager’s belief that he can operate behind a single striker after providing the killer passes for Giggs’ opener and Solskjaer’s final effort.

“Mentally Paul didn’t come to terms with that role last season,” admitted the United boss.

“He does look far more comfortable now and he adds another dimension to our game which we need.”

There was even some measured good news about Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose hamstring injury even prevented him from being named among the substitutes, but Ferguson hopes will be fit to face Everton at Old Trafford on Monday.

“We have to be careful that we don’t overdo it with him,” said Ferguson. “It is a tight hamstring rather than a pull but he will have a lot of exercise between now and Monday and hopefully he will be fit by then.”