The veteran Dutchman helped book the perfect retirement party on Wednesday night, with Van der Sar's final game now due to involve facing Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley. There could not be a better way to bow out. But with the chance of victory comes the prospect of defeat, which is not quite as palatable. "If we win it will be a nice way to finish, otherwise I will have to keep on going," laughed the 40-year-old, who has no intention of reversing his decision to stand down, a move Sir Alex Ferguson backed earlier this week. "You have to work hard in life to get to things and that is what we have done as a team this season." Van der Sar was one of only three players to keep their places from Sunday's defeat at Arsenal as United secured a third final appearance in four years with a 4-1 win over Schalke at Old Trafford. Barring an unforeseen problem, he will become the oldest player ever to play in a final on May 28, before which he has a Premier League title to win, convinced Ferguson's brave selection policy last night will pay dividends. "It was good that we brought some fresher players in," he said. "Hopefully some freshness and that extra bit of rest will help us on Sunday." Had United beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, they would have been 18 points clear of Carlo Ancelotti's men. Instead, they know defeat this weekend will knock them off top spot on goal difference with just two games remaining. Not that Van der Sar is entirely surprised in this topsy-turvy of all seasons. "I am not shocked," he said. "There are certain games in any season you can lose. Chelsea and Liverpool away for instance. "It's the others that are harder to take. "Probably, all three teams at the top have games where they look back and think how did we lose that, or why did we draw there or what happened then. "It doesn't really matter now. It is all up for grabs on Sunday."
