MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer muttered just eight words to Lionel Messi after the Argentine laid on the goal which succumbed United to a 1-0 home loss against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Messi was silenced for most of the game at Old Trafford, largely due to a bloody nose which the forward sustained after a reckless aerial challenge from behind by Chris Smalling.
Barcelona’s talisman had to leave the field for treatment before returning with blood somehow smeared around his eye, but the bloodied magician’s work had already been done.
After untypically miss controlling an incisive chipped pass from Sergio Busquets, Messi curled a pinpoint cross to Luis Suarez at the back post and Manchester United’s old foe headed into Luke Shaw, whose torso diverted the ball in.
Solskjaer was seen talking with Messi after the final whistle but the United manager brushed off the significance of the chat.
Asked what he said to Messi, Solskjaer replied: "'All the best and see you next week'. That's it."
United now face the daunting task of overturning the deficit at the Nou Camp next Tuesday, where Barcelona have not lost in the competition since September 2013.
United thwarted Barcelona well for the majority of the game but lacked potency in the final third.
Doing the same, especially to Messi, in Catalonia next week will be a different kettle of fish, but Solskjaer was pleased with how his team coped last night.
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