MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Apr 10 – Lionel Messi has a history of terrorising Manchester United but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes it is not impossible to stop the Barcelona star inflicting more damage in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final.

Messi scored in both of Barca’s Champions League final victories over United, in 2009 and 2011, and is hungry to win the competition for a fifth time after crashing out at the last eight for the past three seasons.

The Argentine has been in majestic form again this season, scoring 43 goals in 40 appearances to put Barca in position for a third treble in a decade.

“He is a fantastic player and will go down in history as one of the best individual players ever,” said United boss Solskjaer ahead of the first leg of the tie at Old Trafford.

“He will be difficult to stop but it is never impossible. It’s not like it’s Messi against Manchester United.

“There is (Luis) Suarez, (Philippe) Coutinho, (Ivan) Rakitic, (Arturo) Vidal, there are so many good players we can’t just focus on one player. We know we have to play against 11 of them.”

Messi stated before the season even began that his primary target was taking the Champions League back to Catalonia after the disappointment of blowing a 4-1 first-leg lead to bow out to Roma last season.

Salt has been rubbed into the wounds for Barca because Real Madrid have won the competition in each of the past three seasons.

– Barcelona favourites –

However, Madrid have failed to even reach the last eight this year and Barcelona are considered firm favourites to make the last four against a United side sitting sixth in the Premier League, despite an upturn in form since Solskjaer replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in December.

The Red Devils, though, showed what they are capable of in the last 16 by becoming the first side ever to come back from losing the first leg of a European Cup tie 2-0 at home, beating free-spending Paris Saint-Germain on away goals.

“The game against PSG is a great example,” warned Barcelona defender and former United player Gerard Pique.

“They (PSG) were better, but you cannot let United off the hook because they have a great team and a great history as they showed in Paris.

“We learned (from Roma) that things happen, even if it seemed unimaginable that they will. We learned that you cannot let an opponent back into a tie if they are not killed off. That will help us for facing a team like United.

“If at any point we can kill off the tie, we have to do it.”

United have lost three of their four games since victory in the French capital to crash out of the FA Cup and lose ground in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

But Solskjaer says his players believe another Champions League scalp is possible against the Spanish champions.

“Of course when you get Barcelona, with the quality of their team, we know we need to step up our game,” said Solskjaer.

“We know we need to perform to our best levels, which we didn’t against PSG at home. The outcome of the second leg against PSG has given the players and supporters belief that the same is possible against Barcelona.”

Solskjaer is hopeful that Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic will be fit despite failing to take a full part in training on Tuesday.

Barca were given an injury boost with the news that Ousmane Dembele has been passed fit after a month out.

However, the French World Cup player is not expected to start, with coach Ernesto Valverde saying he does not want to take the risk of aggravating his hamstring problem.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Son lauded as Spurs hero after City victory

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Nike make Dortmund teenager Moukoko a millionaire: reportrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Stopping Messi not mission impossible for Man Utd, says Solskjaerrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Miami exit spoils Wade farewell as Detroit edge closerrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Magic Johnson steps down as LA Lakers chiefrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Colombian football rocked by girls’ sexual abuse allegationrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Three things we learned from Spurs v Man Cityrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya Sevens land Sh14mn shirt sponsorshiprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn AFC Leopards re-sign winger Paul Werern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Chipu upsets Namibia to lift Barthes Cuprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Stars players to earn hefty AFCON allowancesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Kenyans break records in weekend road racesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya down two places in latest FIFA rankingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Shujaa come short against Fiji in Hong Kongrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn My job has been made difficult; Oktay lamentsrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Chipu thrash Tunisia, sail to Barthes Cup finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Nike make Dortmund teenager Moukoko a millionaire: report

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Stopping Messi not mission impossible for Man Utd, says Solskjaer

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Miami exit spoils Wade farewell as Detroit edge closer

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Magic Johnson steps down as LA Lakers chief

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Colombian football rocked by girls’ sexual abuse allegation

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Three things we learned from Spurs v Man City

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

McIlroy powers into Masters with Tiger poised to pounce

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Liverpool ease past Porto to close on Champions League semis

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Kane limps off in Spurs, City Champions League tie

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Tiger tees off with Rahm, Li at Masters, McIlroy next

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Tuesday, 9th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nike make Dortmund teenager Moukoko a millionaire: reportrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Son lauded as Spurs hero after City victoryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Stopping Messi not mission impossible for Man Utd, says Solskjaerrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Buzz growing in Cairo ahead of 2019 AFCONrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Miami exit spoils Wade farewell as Detroit edge closerrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tKenya Sevens land Sh14mn shirt sponsorshiprn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 5th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tAFC Leopards re-sign winger Paul Werern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChipu upsets Namibia to lift Barthes Cuprn

rn Rugbyrn rn Sunday, 7th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars players to earn hefty AFCON allowancesrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenyans break records in weekend road racesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya down two places in latest FIFA rankingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tShujaa come short against Fiji in Hong Kongrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 5th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMy job has been made difficult; Oktay lamentsrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChipu thrash Tunisia, sail to Barthes Cup finalrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Thursday, 4th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nike make Dortmund teenager Moukoko a millionaire: reportrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Son lauded as Spurs hero after City victoryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Stopping Messi not mission impossible for Man Utd, says Solskjaerrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Buzz growing in Cairo ahead of 2019 AFCONrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Miami exit spoils Wade farewell as Detroit edge closerrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 10th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */