United get set for another comeback attempt at Camp Nou

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AFP Barcelona
Last Updated : Apr 16 2019 | 4:00 PM IST

Manchester United fans touched down in Barcelona on Tuesday dreaming of another miracle at Camp Nou.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer completed the club's most famous comeback there in 1999 and hopes to see a repeat on the same turf, this time against Barca in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Solskjaer's 93rd-minute winner 20 years ago lives on in United folklore as they came from 1-0 down to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 and clinch Europe's premier prize.

Now in the dugout, Solskjaer returns with his side trailing 1-0 again and needing an unlikely turnaround if they are to reach the tournament's last four.

"Of course it's a fantastic memory for me. It's the only time I've been on the pitch here," Solskjaer said at a press conference on Monday.

"I dont mind if we score in the 93rd minute again (on Tuesday). If we get to injury-time, we are a fit team." Ernesto Valverde has said Lionel Messi is fit and ready to play in the second leg as Barca bid to make the semis for the first time in four years.

Messi was among 10 players rested for the goalless draw against Huesca on Saturday after a hefty challenge from United defender Chris Smalling last week left him with a swollen nose and cheek.

"He is fine," said Valverde. "He has recovered perfectly from the blow he suffered. He was fine after a couple of days.

- 'A little stunned' -
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"Barcelona here at the Nou Camp is a difficult prospect but the memory will live with the players. It's not long ago."
"The good thing is we play differently to PSG," he said. "But United are dangerous and the result from the first leg is dangerous, it is a very small advantage."
"It has been hard," said Ter Stegen. "We are another year older and we want to make sure it doesn't happen again. We have to take those losses into account and use them to move forward."
"That's fine but I prefer to take charge of your own destiny. You won't be given something that falls from the sky. We have to earn it."

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First Published: Apr 16 2019 | 4:00 PM IST

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