Apart from ensuring United do not suffer the financial disaster of missing out on the group stages, it would also be the first step towards winning a trophy that has not been seen at Old Trafford since 1999.

United’s run of eight successive quarter-final appearances came to an end last term when they were dumped out in the first knock-out stage by eventual winners FC Porto.

Ferguson knows it is time the Red Devils add to their continental triumphs so they can be regarded as the equals of multiple winners like Real Madrid and AC Milan.

“The Premiership has become such a tribal competition and it is obviously hugely important to us,” he told MUTV. “But you can’t put it above the European Cup – not for this club.

“We have to look at the likes of Real Madrid and AC Milan, who have won the European Cup so many times.

“Our performances in the Champions League have been good down the years but there is a difference between doing well and winning it, and with the players we have had, twice is not good enough for this club.”

Dinamo today confirmed that next Wednesday’s game will take place at the 58,000-capacity national stadium in Bucharest rather than their cramped 15,000 Stefan cel Mare stadium.

Officials from the Romanian club had originally suggested they would keep the game at their own home ground to maximise their chances of success.

Now, however, they have decided to cash in on the phenomenal interest created by United’s first competitive match in Romania.

Dinamo are likely to prove more troublesome than Hungarian minnows Zalaegerszeg, who were blown away at Old Trafford after claiming a 1-0 first leg victory two years ago, but should still be side-stepped with the minimum of fuss.

United’s task has been made slightly easier by the dismissal of Dinamo keeper Cristian Munteanu, who will now be suspended for next week’s game.

The sides will meet in the return leg at Old Trafford on August 25, with an 8.10pm kick-off.