MAGIC LEO TORTURES THE REDS
Leo ruins United’s hopes of Nou Camp repeat
LIONEL MESSI left Manchester United’s Euro dreams in tatters. United fans hoped for a Nou Camp miracle – 20 years after grabbing Champions League glory there against Bayern Munich. But two goals one from Messi and from Philippe Barcelona into Coutinho fired the semi-finals. ALL THE EURO – ACTION
ONE team had Messi, the other team were just messy.
Manchester United were handed a brutal reality check at the Nou Camp – a sobering reminder of just how far they’ve fallen behind Europe’s elite.
United fans had thought another night of European glory was their destiny with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having scored the last-gasp winner here against Bayern Munich in 1999 – and wearing the No.20 shirt – to complete the Treble.
But after guiding them to that triumph almost 20 years ago, there was to be no repeat of the fairytale as former boss Alex Ferguson joined the shocked supporters in watching United being swiped aside.
The night belonged to Lionel Messi, destroying Manchester United with the sort of breathtaking performance that has established him as the greatest player of this and arguably any generation. Messi’s first goal was a sensational 20-yard left-foot shot curled into the far corner at a time when United were looking a genuine threat. That was over pretty quickly.
The Barcelona superstar’s second came after a horrible mistake by David de Gea.
The keeper is supposedly the best in the world but he let a tame, routine shot go in under his body.
And Barca’s ex-Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho set up a potential semi-final with his old club with a superb third.
United showed some heart but are nowhere near being on the same level as a Barcelona team that is supposedly a fading force. But what can you expect when you are asking Fred and an ageing Ashley Young to try to stop the world’s best player?
Paul Pogba looked like a player who did not want to be there but no big club will sign him on this evidence.
United look also-rans on this stage and, even though they went for the fairytale option by appointing Solskjaer, they’ll need a huge overhaul if they’re to get back to former glories.
But for Barca, while they have Messi, then anything is
possible. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 32 in June, shows no signs of slowing down.
There was an incredible moment just before half-time, Messi picked up the ball just inside the United half, beat poor old Phil Jones twice, went back and did it again for good measure before nutmegging him to rub salt in the wounds.
Messi’s lay-off released Jordi Alba, his cross found Sergi Roberto and his shot at the back post was kept out by a desperate block from De Gea as the United keeper sunk to his knees.
The cruel thing for United was the hope – because they actually started well.
Pogba released Marcus Rashford and the United No.10 crashed a shot against the crossbar inside 40 seconds.
Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay also had a brief sight of goal as United started with real intent.
But the mood changed on 16 minutes, just after Barcelona had rightly been denied a penalty for a Fred challenge.
The reprieve was brief. Young lost possession in the left-back slot, Messi seized possession, threw a shimmy that wrongfooted Fred and then unleashed a sensational curling left-foot shot into the bottom corner.
It was a great goal but probably not even in his top 10.
Five minutes later, it was all over. Messi seized on more United indecision, Fred at fault again, the Barcelona No.10 then stormed forward but did not really catch his shot well.
But it still dribbled under De Gea’s body for a cruel second.
And worse was to follow. Coutinho produced a brilliant curling right-foot shot from 20 yards that flew past De Gea and into the top corner in the 62nd minute.
United have spent around £725million on players since Ferguson stepped down in 2013.
Spending £52m on Fred, who was hopelessly outclassed last night, was yet more evidence of why United need a director of football to oversee a strategic recruitment policy.
Throwing money around has, unsurprisingly, not worked. The Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup are the only trophies to show during six years of turmoil and change at a club that once prided itself on continuity.
Against that backdrop, Solskjaer has it all to do to take United back to the top.