UCL: How do Manchester United stop Messi? - Ex Man Utd Fletcher's Analysis

Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher analyses the CL clash between Man Utd and Barcelona

I only came up against Lionel Messi once, when I came on to help Manchester United see out our win over Barcelona in the 2008 Champions League semi-finals, but that was enough to find out how difficult it is to stop him.


It looks easier when you are watching from the bench but it is a different story when you are out on the pitch with him. You only really realise just how quickly he moves after he has accelerated past you.

We managed to get the better of him that night, but it was obviously a different story when Barca beat us in the final in 2009 and outclassed us completely at Wembley in 2011.

United are about to take on Barcelona for the first time since losing that night, and how they deal with Messi is probably even more important this time.

His role in the Barca team has changed slightly over the past decade, partly through maturity but also because Xavi and Andres Iniesta are not alongside him any more.

I did not get the chance to take on Messi when we played Barcelona in the 2009 final. Instead, I was in the stands because I was sent off against Arsenal in the semi-finals.

Barcelona are favourites this time but I don't think their team is as strong as it was back then.

The pace and power United have got on the break - the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Romalu Lukaku - will be Barca's worst nightmare.
BBC Sport