OGS explores how Man Utd can turn tables against Barcelona

Manchester United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still believes his team has a place in the ChampionsLeague and that they can still progress to the semi-finals as they face the Catalans today at Nou Camp.

The manager is bringing in some changes from the last Premier league that pitted Watford where his side performed poorly according to the manager.

Manchester United “cannot rely on fate” in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona, says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United travel to the Nou Camp needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit. It will be the first time Solskjaer has played or managed at the ground since scoring the winning goal for United in the 1999 Champions League final.

“[There will be] Many emotions, of course, it’s a fantastic memory for me,” Solskjaer said. “I don’t look back on that night too often.

“I don’t know how I will feel I don’t think it will be too different. I am focused on a better performance. That is my job now.

“Sometimes people have said to me it has to be our year because of 20 years ago and being back at the Nou Camp but to go through, we have to perform and have to deserve it. We can’t say we are just going to rely on fate.”

Solskjaer’s goal against Bayern Munich came in the third minute of injury time, two minutes after Teddy Sheringham had equalised, and sealed a historic treble for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Asked if the prospect facing his current side on Tuesday was more difficult, Solskjaer said: “In football, anything can happen.

“We know we can still be in this tie if we keep a clean sheet. In the 93rd minute, if we get a set-piece, we are taller and bigger than them.

“We need to defend well and we need to score. I don’t mind if it is in the 93rd minute.”

United are aiming to overturn a first-leg deficit for the second round in a row on Tuesday. In the last 16, they recovered a 2-0 deficit against Paris St-Germain by winning 3-1 at the Parc des Princes to go through on away goals.

Solskjaer said the win in Paris “will help” his team against Barcelona.

“It will have helped us as a team,” the Norwegian said. “We know we can turn things around.

“Barca here at the Nou Camp is a difficult prospect but that night will live with the players. It was not that long ago and we are one goal better off [than we were then].”

Solskjaer confirmed forward Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Nemanja Matic are both available for the tie after recovering from injuries.

Sanchez, who played 141 times for Barca in a three-year spell, has been out for six weeks with a knee injury and Matic has missed the past three games.

Matteo Darmian has also been included in the 22-man squad after injury but Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly are out.

“Alexis has been here and played here,” Solskjaer said. “It will be a big night for him when he is on the pitch. I am sure he wants to prove a point and prove point for us as well.

“He has been injured and has not had a fantastic season so far. Let’s hope he ends the season great for us.”

Lionel Messi is fit to play, having suffered a facial injury in last Wednesday’s first leg following a clash with Chris Smalling. The forward was rested for Saturday’s La Liga goalless draw at bottom club Huesca.

A draw would take Barcelona through to their first Champions League semi-final since 2015 but manager Ernesto Valverde said he would send his team out to win the game.

“The result from the first leg is not definite,” Valverde said. “We have to play our own way. We will try to make sure they don’t score. We want to win the game tomorrow,” he added.

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