Man Utd must show no fear against Barcelona, ​​says Andy Cole | Football News

Andy Cole said Manchester United should play without fear against Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Catalan giants, five-time European champions, will travel to Old Trafford Wednesday night for the first leg of their quarterfinal match against United.

Cole scored a memorable goal against Barcelona in 1999, while United doubled 3-3 times with the Spanish club in the group stage of this year's Champions League.

The former striker thinks that United should seek to show similar intent when he faces Barcelona this time.

"Go and do the same thing," said Cole. "Go ahead and have fun, we knew we were a very good team and Barcelona was a very good team.

"But we did not show any fear, a lot of teams go there and have a little bit of fear, they have had fantastic players, but so have we.

"We went to play football, they did the same thing, and this season the two games ended in a 3-3 record and that taught you everything about both teams.

"We were respectful, but we both tried to beat each other, but six goals in each match say a lot about the fact that two teams are trying to play attractive and offensive football."

Bayern Munich and United advanced in the group in 1999 to Barcelona, ​​with the first two teams in the final at Camp Nou.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a decisive goal for United after replacing Cole in the 89th minute. The former English international claimed that he had never been jealous of his former teammate.

"I've been asking this question a few times:" Have you been disappointed by Ole? " said Cole

"Why should I be? We won the European Cup! I had the chance to score in the semifinal to lead us to the finals of the European Cup. For me, that did not make any difference. "

United joined the match as an underdog against a Barcelona team, which counts 11 points ahead of the La Liga summit.

However, Cole thinks the team is able to create another surprise after beating Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round.

Speaking of the draw for the quarterfinals, Cole said, "I called him before.

"I said to one of the guys:" We're going to have Barcelona … "It's a strange thing, it's destiny, it's been 20 years and it's Then we had Barcelona, ​​I knew it would happen.

"Anything is possible in football matches." "He proved himself against PSG and, yes, he's going to have to play extremely well because he has a mischievous genius in (Lionel) Messi.

"I've been watching him closely for many years and I'm looking at him now and I think he's getting better as he gets older." "He has a night of rest or s & # 39; 39, he's hurt, whatever, so you never know what can happen. "