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
Manchester United's perfect record under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought renewed hope to the club but qualifying for the Champions League will still be 'difficult', goalkeeper David De Gea has said. Sixth-placed United have won all six league games since the Norwegian replaced Jose Mourinho to close the gap on fourth
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de
What Adaptations Do Wolves Have? | Sciencing
The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in the spirit of
Feb 08, 2019 · The family of the footballer Emiliano Sala has called for the authorities to continue to search for missing pilot David Ibbotson as the world of football came to terms with the confirmation of the
Search For Emiliano Sala Continues As Friends And Family
Mad Hatters Tea Party. To host a mad hatters tea party is a very easy thing to do. Let your imagination run wild and be inspired by anything whimsical and enchanting and of course Alice in Wonderland.
70 Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event
Pep Guardiola said his Manchester City team will be poised to pounce if Man City ready to pounce on any Liverpool slip-ups, says Guardiola. 2019-01-15 07:11 Jesus took a stuttering run-up
Kean subject to racist abuse, Juve teammate Bonucci says he incited crowd Emmeline Moore 03 Apr 2019 12:36 Despite scoring for Juventus, Moise Kean (centre) had a frustrating night in Cagliari as
Leonardo Bonucci Issues Tone-Deaf '50-50 Blame' Reaction to
Football News: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Premier League title race is something to get excited about rather than stressed about despite seeing his s
Football: Klopp excited by Premier League title fight
Solskjaer Warns United Players Over Complacency over from Jose Mourinho on December 19 and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. not be complacent and take
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi says he will miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles in Monday's (April 22) 2-2 draw against Burnley.. Read more at
Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi Says He Will Miss Rest Of Season
Kevin de Bruyne to miss Manchester derby with knee injury. The forward was injured in Manchester City's 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Fulham on Thursday night, limping off with five minutes remaining
Kevin De Bruyne ruled out of Wednesday's Manchester derby
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch live soccer stream android
watch soccer live stream apk
watch sky sports premier league live stream
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch champions league live streaming zee5
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch the champions league live stream
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league draw live streaming free
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch english premier league live streaming hd
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch the premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch live soccer game today
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch soccer am online live streaming
#klopp #Celtic #livestreaming #liverpoolfans #mancityvsliverpool #soccerbible #oasisengland #boxing #calciatoribrutti #firmino #leicestercity #noelgallagher #myfootballuniverse #neymar #footballschedule #commento #soccer #BMW #sixtimes #mancity #realmadridcf #linkstreaming #footballmemes #freekicks #freekickerz #arsenalnews #24x7 #acmilan #trollfootball #tokyo #paulmcartney #gunners #gym #ucl #comico #battuteepiche #coutinho #seriea #afcnews #adidasslipon #433skills #footballfans #kroenkeout #MSport #Fcb #comics #portsmouthfc #mane #leomessi #ignoranza #lionelmessi #MyDubai #bestshishacafedubai #satira #football #lfc #oasisandbeatles #winner #liverpool #bayervshoffenheim #petercrouch #transfernews #league1 #arsenalfantv #GarageCafeDxb #uefanationsleague #championsleague #frasirap #henderson #liverpoolcity #Sunday #fut #bayernmunich #zidane #nutmeg #Suarez #hoffenhiem #risate #Liverpool #realmadrid #crossfit #england #juventus
No comments:
Post a Comment