Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns to scene of greatest triumph as Manchester United take on Barcelona
It’s an iconic Champions League moment that will live forever in the memories of Manchester United supporters.
Twenty years on from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 93rd-minute winner against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, in the Champions League final, the United manager returns to the Nou Camp.
The Red Devils will need to muster the spirit of 1999 and that late comeback if they are to progress to the semi-finals of this year’s competition. The three-time European champions trail Barca 1-0 on aggregate heading into Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Talking ahead of the game, Solskjaer was keen to stress the importance of focusing on the job in hand, rather the past.
“Of course it's a fantastic memory for me,” he said. “It's the only time I've been on the pitch, but I don't really look back on that night too often.”
"My job now is to make us play better than in the first game.
"I was a player back then. In football anything can happen at any time and we know that we can still be in this tie.
"It's about the quality though. We need to defend well but going forward we need to score. If we keep a clean sheet, we can still be in the tie in the 93rd minute."
Barca and Lionel Messi were far from their best during last week’s first leg at Old Trafford but still secured a win courtesy of Luke Shaw’s own-goal.
United offered next-to-nothing in reply, failing to register a single shot on target.
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But they can take inspiration from their performance in the last round, when Solskjaer’s team overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in return leg.
"That memory from PSG will help the players, will help us as a team,” added Solskjaer. “We know we can turn things round.
"Of course Barcelona here at the Nou Camp is a difficult prospect but the memory from that night will live with the players.
"It's not that long ago and we're one goal better off."
Form has been an issue for United in recent weeks, losing four of their last five matches and struggling to a 2-1 victory against West Ham United on Saturday.
United will welcome Alexis Sanchez back into the squad after injury, and Solskjaer thinks the 30-year-old has a point to prove.
He said:"For Alexis, it's a big night and when he's on the pitch I'm sure he wants to prove a point.
"He wants to prove a point for us as well. He's been injured, he's not had a fantastic season so far and let's hope he can end the season great for us.
"We are in the business end of the season. We're playing games that Man United are used to playing.
"Let's hope Alexis can be happy with his performance when he is on the pitch."
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