Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his team have a mountain to climb in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash against Barcelona on Wednesday evening (9pm).
The Red Devils welcome Lionel Messi and company to Old Trafford on the back of a 2-1 Premier League defeat to the Wolves.
And with the Spanish giants, led by Messi who has scored eight goals for his team in the tournament to date, being firm favourites heading into the clash, Solskjaer knows they have to be at their best.
Having gotten the better of star-studded PSG in the Round of 16, Solskjaer says ahead of Wednesday’s clash: “We’ve got a chance, it’s going to be a tough one.
“We’ve got a mountain to climb, but we’ve climbed a few mountains before.
“We want these games against the biggest clubs and the biggest teams.
“It’s these games our fans and this club crave. We are looking forward to this one.”
Solskjaer doesn’t believe his team should be happy just competing.
Out of the title race in the Premier League, he wants them to fight for the big prize in Europe.
NERVOUS DEVIL: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left). Photo: Lee Smith/Reuters.
And he believes they can go all the way, saying: “You’ve got to aim high.
“You cannot aim too low at this club. You’ve got to aim to win titles. When I came back here as the manager, I thought a lot about what makes a winning team. What does it really take to win on the biggest stage?
“I’m not one to sit back, rest on my laurels.”
Up against them will be a determined Barcelona outfit, who are running away from their rivals in Spain’s La Liga.
As part of the best team currently in Spain, midfielder Sergio Busquets wants nothing more than a win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
He says: “I’ve always wanted to play at Old Trafford.
“They’re a side whose philosophy differs from ours. Their game revolves a lot around the physical side of things and counterattacks.”