Smalling Dares Messi As Man United Prepare To Meet Barca

By Nigel Phillips

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling says he is ready to face Lionel Messi on Wednesday as he vows to stop the Barcelona icon in the Champions League clash.

Smalling would likely start alongside Victor Lindelof at centre-back at Old Trafford as Manchester United play the Spanish giants in the first leg quarter-final clash.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils used the same centre-back pair to shut down Paris-Saint Germain in the second leg game of the knockout stage.

Smalling, 29, believes he has gained some experience playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored against United in Turin in the Champions League group stage, as he proclaims his readiness to face Messi on Wednesday.

"It's something to relish, I think. This season I've been lucky enough to face Ronaldo and Mbappe and they're all challenges that I definitely relish and I think players at this club relish.”

"I say bring it on."

Smalling also claims Manchester United are not harbouring any fears facing Barcelona at this stage of the competition.

"We showed as a collective the work we have done can result in a performance against the best team in the world. When we saw it was Barcelona in the draw we were smiling because it was another challenge and we will go head-on," added Smalling.

"You work so hard to be in the Champions League places; these are the ties you look forward to. All the hard work in the group stages comes to this."

"What kind of plan can you have to stop one of the best players in the world? We're looking forward to it and relishing the opportunity but this season we've played against Juventus and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, PSG with (Kylian) Mbappe, we've had (Eden) Hazard," added Solskjaer, who wants Paul Pogba to take the game to Barca.

"(Luis) Suarez as well. Suarez, (Philippe) Coutinho and Messi will keep our defenders on their toes so let's see how we manage tomorrow.”

"Messi will be difficult to stop but it's never impossible. It's not like it's Messi against Manchester United. There are so many good players, we can't just focus on one player."