‘We’re Manchester United, you can never write us off’: Scott McTominay bullish about his side’s chances after battling performance against Barcelona at Old Trafford
- Manchester United were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by Barcelona on Wednesday
- It was advantage Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final match-up
- United midfielder Scott McTominay says it would be wrong to ‘write us off’
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side battled valiantly but still have major work to do
- REPORT: Luke Shaw’s own goal gives Ernesto Valverde’s side a slender lead
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay feels it would be wrong for people to write them off in the Champions League despite falling 1-0 at home to Barcelona.
A first half own goal from Luke Shaw was all that separated the two sides on the night at Old Trafford as Barcelona took control of the quarter-final tie.
McTominay started the match and was one of the standout performers for United in what proved to be a fiercely competitive contest, setting up a fascinating second leg at the Nou Camp next week.
Scott McTominay (L) feels it would be wrong to write Manchester United off against Barcelona
The United and Scotland midfielder remains upbeat about the chances of knocking Barca out
‘They’re a top class team and it’s not easy to press like mayhem but afterwards we did so, so well and credit to the boys for that,’ the Scotland international told BT Sport.
‘We’re Manchester United, you can never write us off. They’ve got top class players but so have we.’
United’s supporters, players and management do not have to look too far back to a time when they ripped up the script away from home.
Luis Suarez wheels away in celebration after his header was put in by Luke Shaw to go 1-0 up
In the last-16 Paris Saint-Germain left Manchester with a 2-0 first leg lead and were overwhelming favourites to progress heading back to the Parc des Princes, only for United to stun their hosts.
Two goals from Romelu Lukaku hauled them back into the contest and a stoppage time penalty from Marcus Rashford knocked out PSG and set up this quarter-final meeting with Barcelona.
United became the first side in European Cup history to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg and the squad are under no illusions that they need a similar turnaround to eliminate Lionel Messi and Barcelona next Tuesday.
Chris Smalling tries to stop Suarez from getting past during the opening stages at Old Trafford
‘I thought for large spells we pressed them quite high and made it difficult,’ Chris Smalling added. ‘It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get that goal because we created chances.
‘I thought we showed them far too much respect in the first 10-15 minutes but after that we adapted.
‘Right from half time we really pressed them and caused them so many problems. The whole team, we nullified them even though they scored. As a team we stuck to our game plan.
‘We was right on the front foot. We knew we had to bring that intensity to that game that they’re not used to every week.’
United’s players are under no illusions at the size of the task ahead as they look to progress
