How do you stop Lionel Messi? It's the question many have tried to solve in years gone by, but only a few have successfully silenced the magician. Yes,I'm talking about Alvaro Arbeloa's masterclass in 2007.
Messi has been in scintillating form of late. He has scored 43 goals in 40 games this season, including eight goals in the 2018/19 Champions League campaign.
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It's going to be tough task for the likes of Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof, who are expected to start tonight, but there is a glimmer of hope for Manchester United ahead of kick-off tonight.
For one, the Barcelona forward has failed to score in any of his last 11 Champions League quarter-final appearances for the club, with his last goal coming against PSG in 2013.
In addition to his poor form in quarter finals, Sir Alex Ferguson believes he knows exactly how to stop Messi. I'm sure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done his research, but this could be an important piece of advice ahead of kick-off:
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"You need centre-backs who are prepared to drop right on top of Messi and not worry about what is happening behind them," he said in his 2013 autobiography.
"He will drift away to the side. That's fine. He's less of a threat on the side than he is through the centre.
"After the inquest I told myself: 'When we play Barcelona next time in a Champions League final, I would have Jones and Smalling, or Smalling and Evans, right on top of Messi. I wasn't going to let him torture us again."
So there we have it. Ferguson thinks if United's centre-backs drop right on top of Messi, and not give him a second to think about his next move, Solskjaer's side could be in with a chance.
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That being said, it's easier said than done. Messi creates space when there is no space.
Good luck, lads.
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