LONDON • Lionel Messi has scored 22 Champions League goals in 30 appearances against English teams - more than any other player in the history of the competition.
But Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no plans to man-mark the Barcelona talisman in the first leg of their quarter-final tie today, despite admitting he "will go down in history as one of the best ever".
At his pre-match press conference yesterday, he said: "Messi will be difficult to stop but never impossible, it's not like Messi against Manchester United, (there's also Luis) Suarez, (Philippe) Coutinho, (Arturo) Vidal, so many good players. We can't focus on one, we have to focus on (all) 11 of them.
"What kind of plan can you have to stop one of the best in the world? This season we (have already) played against (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Kylian) Mbappe, and now Messi. They're challenges I relish, I say bring it on."
Although this is the first time Solskjaer will face the 31-year-old and his team as a coach, there is someone who has a wealth of experience trying to shackle the Argentina captain and whose experience he has drawn upon - his mentor Alex Ferguson.
Revealing he had tapped the former United managerial great's inside knowledge, he said: "Of course, I've spoken with the gaffer since the draw was made but no details... You look at what you'll do against them and we're ready."
While Solskjaer is fully aware "we have to defend well against them", he also urged the Old Trafford faithful to come out in droves as "we will need the crowd in a game like this".
Barcelona v Man United: Epic Champions League battles
2011: FINAL, WEMBLEY
This was the last time the two European football juggernauts met in a competitive fixture.
It was, however, far from a tight contest as United were overrun in midfield while Lionel Messi led their defence on a merry run as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners.
This was tiki-taka football at its peak, with Pep Guardiola lifting his second European Cup as a manager.
2009: FINAL, STADIO OLIMPICO
While United were ultimately outplayed in the 2-0 loss, they departed Rome asking life's cruellest question - what if?
Despite a blistering start, during which they were on top, they failed to score before their defence gave away a soft opener to Samuel Eto'o.
The Red Devils could only rue Darren Fletcher's ban that left Michael Carrick isolated in midfield against Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, with the former eventually supplying Messi's headed goal.
2008: SEMI-FINAL 2ND LEG, OLD TRAFFORD
Former United manager Alex Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz were so determined to restrict the away side's "passing carousel" that they went through an unprecedented level of tactical preparation in training.
The attention to detail worked as they restricted Barcelona to few chances and no goals across the two legs, reaching their first Champions League final since 1999 thanks to Paul Scholes' howitzer on a night of raw emotion.
It was probably, across both legs, their most negative performance in Ferguson's 26 years at the club, but the end justified the means, with United going on to claim their third European Cup.
THE GUARDIAN
The Norwegian said: "Hopefully, a bit of rain will make for a special evening. Confidence is high. The result, what we did against Paris Saint-Germain, and how we have climbed the table, clawing back points.
"The players have given themselves and the supporters great belief. I can feel the tension, the excitement. The Champions League is possible and we can go on to win it. There will have to be luck and margins, we must perform at the best."
But even if the Red Devils fail to match the Catalan giants' "quality" at home, the tie - their first meeting since the 2011 Champions League final - is "not going to be decided until we play 90 minutes in the Nou Camp".
Backing midfielder Paul Pogba to "perform tomorrow as his job is to be the creator and to drive us forward", Solskjaer added: "We know we can't give fouls away, look how many goals Messi has scored from free kicks outside the area (seven this season), we have to be careful.
"(But) the Champions League throws up so many strange results, we just have to make sure we perform to our best and have a result to take over to Barcelona."
The 46-year-old also touched on Barcelona defender Gerard Pique's first return to his "second home" of Manchester since leaving the club in 2008, before jokingly drawing a parallel with their age gap.
He said: "Gerard, I used to play with him. He came as a young boy (Pique is now 32), we had a lot of belief in him.
"He was maybe unlucky, he came here when (Nemanja) Vidic and Rio (Ferdinand) played here so he didn't get the chances he probably deserved.
"It will be nice to meet him again. Hopefully, we can make him feel old, and not me young."
United also received a boost after it was revealed forward Marcus Rashford would likely be fit, although midfielder Nemanja Matic remains a doubt.
REUTERS
MANCHESTER UNITED V BARCELONA
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am
Thomas Lemar scored late as Atletico Madrid kept their slim LaLiga title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Eibar.. Atletico seemed set to be held at Ipurua on Saturday and hand runaway leaders
Atletico dent Ronaldo's title hopes with 2-0 win over Juventus
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test . League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United interim boss Solskjaer insists he is happy to travel to
Solskjaer insists United don't fear Camp Nou test after
adtest.supersport.com/football/uefa-champions-league/news/190315/Solskjaer_insists_United_dont_fear_Camp_Nou_test_after_drawing_Barca
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.
Football: Solskjaer insists Man United don't fear Camp Nou
Alves is the third PSG player to be targeted by thieves in recent months. Thieves broke in and stole luxury watches from the home of Paris St Germain's Dani Alves while the Brazilian defender was playing a match earlier this week, French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Saturday.
Sports: PSG's Dani Alves House Burgled During Match
(Reuters) - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship (second-tier) match on Friday. Derby said earlier that local police had spoken to a person acting suspiciously outside their training ground on Thursday.
Leeds United Manager Marcelo Bielsa Admits Spying on Derby
Football: 'Fuming' Spurs must not dwell on Wolves loss, says Winks Harry Winks urged his teammates "not to get carried away with a defeat" before their visit to a rejuvenated Cardiff today. PHOTO: AFP
Winks: Spurs players "fuming" at Wolves loss
Ex-PAP MP & ex-FAS chairman Zainudin Nordin among 4 arrested & out on police bail for donation saga. New plot twist. Chan Cheow Pong FAS General Secretary Winston Lee,
Football Association of Singapore - Singapore's official home
Jermain Defoe to Rangers - Gers agree 18-month loan deal with Bournemouth. Keep u p to date with ALL the latest news and transfers from Scottish football plus fixtures,
Jermain Defoe on his 'gift from God' as Rangers seal loan for
Barcelona took a step closer to the La Liga title after earning a hard-fought 2-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp. Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad
Qatar will not take a decision on whether to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams from 32 until it has seen the details of a feasibility study from FIFA, an official from the country's World Cup organising committee said on Monday.
FIFA scraps proposal to expand 2022 World Cup to 48 teams
Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala February 9, 2019 by Football Paradise Staff Reporter 0 Neil Warnock praised his Cardiff players for paying tribute to the late Emiliano Sala with their vital 2-1 victory at Southampton.
Warnock proud of Cardiff response to Sala tragedy at Arsenal
Premier League: Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says coach Maurizio Sarri Description: Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri | Sport24
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live streaming kenya
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch soccer live streaming qatar
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming usa
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming video
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch usa soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league final live streaming
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming bola
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
#BMW #livestreams #coffeebreak #gunners #afcnews #juventus #433skills #uefanationsleague #bestshishacafedubai #romania #myfootballuniverse #liverpoolfc #Celtic #winner #henderson #jadwalbolahariini #neymar #chocolatecoffee #midnight #manchestercity #gym #visubal #soccer #arsenalnews #england #realmadridcf #footballfans #vandijk #footballstreaming #manchestercity #league2 #soccer #oasis #oasisofficial #fut #manchestercity #football #copaamerica #GarageCafeDxb #premierleague #realmadrid #lionelmessi #roadtrip #bayern #liverpool #cristianoronaldo #conference #nutmeg #firmino #satira #lovefootball #bayernmunich #frasirap #Liamgallagher #liverpoolfans #soccermemes #kopisusu #livesports #coys #comico #golazo #coyg
No comments:
Post a Comment