Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that he has a big job on his hands to rebuild Manchester United after a 3-0 humbling at the Camp Nou.
United started the game against Barcelona pretty well, getting on the front foot and causing the hosts a few problems.
However, an Ashley Young mistake on 16 minutes gifted the ball to Lionel Messi, who, despite having plenty to do, beat two more United players before rasping an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later, the tie was over, as Messi’s tame right-footed effort somehow found its way under David de Gea to make it 3-0 on aggregate and hand Manchester United an impossible task.
Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho scored a second-half rocket to put the game beyond all doubt, and speaking after the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted the difference in quality was there for all to see.
“We did well to get here and we could see the difference between the two teams. The quality of finishing was outstanding,” the former striker said in his post-match press conference.
“We started well for the first 15 minutes and we thought we’ve got something here, and then in four minutes they scored two goals which made it so hard.
“The attitude was right. We knew we were fighting against a good team with good players. We know there’s work to do. We’ve said all along that this won’t change overnight and the next few years will be massive to get to the level teams like Barcelona are at.”
Solskjaer went on to say that his job as manager is a ‘rebuilding job’, saying he will be making ‘one or two additions’ to the side in the summer transfer market.
“We need to get the best out of each other, create an environment of a top, top, top class attitude every single day. At the moment, we’ve really, really done well to get to the quarter-finals and challenge for the top four. It’s a rebuilding job but it starts with the coaches, and then the players. One or two additions to the squad will happen in the summer.”
On this evidence, he will need more than one or two…