Andy Cole Warns Manchester United Over Messi

By Joshua Walters

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has cautioned his former club over the danger of 'magician' Lionel Messi when the two clubs meet in the Champions League quarter-final game on April 10.

Manchester United were drawn to face the Spanish giants after stunning Paris Siant-Germain in the knockout stage with a last-gasp away-goal to qualify for the quarter-final stage of the competition.

The Red Devils will welcome Barcelona to the Old Trafford in the first leg on Wednesday, and Cole is advising the former to be wary of Messi.

"They've got a little magician in their team and, if he turns up, I'm not going to say 'we need to mark him out of the game' because you can't," the 47-year-old told United's official website.

"If he decides he's going to play and if he doesn't, he'll still play, he's that good. We'll have to wait and see."

"Anything's possible," he said ahead of Wednesday's first leg at Old Trafford. "We weren't expected to get past PSG but we did that. But we know Barcelona are a very good and special team.

Despite the Catalan side being the clear favourite to triumph, Andy Cole insists Manchester United could pull a surprised should they stick to the club’s philosophy.

"I think what we can do is play the way Manchester United should play. We did that when we won the Champions League in 99, we played Barcelona twice and both legs ended 3-3, with both teams playing attacking football which we're used to. We have to do exactly that."

"Anything's possible," he said ahead of Wednesday's first leg at Old Trafford. "We weren't expected to get past PSG but we did that. But we know Barcelona are a very good and special team.

"I think what we can do is play the way Manchester United should play. We did that when we won the Champions League in 99, we played Barcelona twice and both legs ended 3-3, with both teams playing attacking football which we're used to. We have to do exactly that."