Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to have to come up with a plan to stop Lionel Messi when Manchester United play Barcelona and the Norwegian might want to turn to his former boss for advice.
United set up a Champions League quarter final clash with Barcelona having beaten Paris Saint-Germain and if Solskjaer's side are going to progress to the semi-final they're going to have to keep Messi quiet.
The Barcelona forward is in formidable form scoring 12 times in his last nine games, including two hat-tricks and Solskjaer might want to turn to his old boss for advice after the Scot revealed he had come up with a plan on how to deal with the Argentina international.
Ferguson's United side came up against Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League final in 2009 and 2011, losing on both occasions, and following the two defeats he set up hatching a plan to stop Messi should he ever face him again.
"To beat Barcelona in that cycle you needed centre-backs who could be really positive," Ferguson wrote in his 2013 autobiography.
"Rio and Vidic were at an age where their preference was to defend the space. Nothing wrong with that. Quite correct. But, against Barcelona, it's a limited approach.
"You need centre-backs who are prepared to drop right on top of [Lionel] Messi and not worry about what is happening behind them. Ok, he'll 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."
Ferguson never got the chance to put his plan into action before retiring in 2013 but perhaps Solskjaer can take on his advice.
ReyMessi17
252
Well, that plan did not work in 2009, and 11 did it???
Football Fan876
217
It's very funny hearing this from a man who openly stated that Messi is not all that. In fact Ferguson said that Messi can never be great because he's never played in any other league. Yet hes not talking about stopping barca, he's talking about stopping Messi. He's therefore basically contradicting himself. I'm sure Ferguson's united played against and conquered great teams and players, so why is it that Messi was this big obstacle in his way. If Messi was not great why so much focus is on him instead of barca.
watbeorstu
126
Messi is like wifi.. Only works when around Spain.. 😂 😂
Moomin17
116
Sir Alex Ferguson : Messi is better than Maradona. He is doing it longer for a longer time than Maradona. Also unlike Earlier Periods Defenders are way more organized. Still remember this moments when Sir Alex Ferguson hand were shaking In UCL FINAL because of the fear name Messi.
Meoceklst
90
if united want to stop barca they need to focus on whole barca team, if they only prepare for messi they gonna loose their own style and As we can see barca always improve on second half United will suffer by their own plan.
Maclaud
89
Wrong person to ask...Turn to Roberto Di Matteo Chelsea faced Barcelona on our way to being crowned champions in 2012. He did score after that but went quite all game. or Ask John Terry
MarkFiifi
77
the thing that will make Manchester United loss in their home is them trying to focus on Messi.. the element of surprise will come from different angles. Focus on Messi and you will loss. man u need to play normal and they have a chance
Teeeostu
55
It will be good to listen to such advice if he has used it and worked, but he always had a stroke seeing messi tearing apart his team. So turn to Roberto Di Matteo for advice, he has been there he has done it and it has work for him
Tudaeipsz
52
Ander Herera is the solution to Messi , he has already done it against Hazard so he can again do it against Messi.