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Manchester United have drawn Barcelona in the quarterfinals of this season's UEFA Champions League, and the whole world is waiting to witness this gigantic clash of titans.
While Barcelona enjoyed a comfortable ride in the round of 16 as they got past Lyon with a 5-1 win on aggregate, Manchester United, had a roller coaster ride. The Red Devils had to dig deep and play with all their resilience in order to beat PSG in their Round of 16 tie.
UCL draws often turn out to be pulsating courtesy of their potential of generating enticing matchups And it won't be wrong to claim that Manchester United vs Barcelona promises to be mighty exciting
The two teams, with all their history, have an enormous fanbase around the globe. Ardent supporters of these two colossal European units have their fingers crossed for this thrilling two-legged tie.
With all that being said, not many will argue against Barcelona being favourites for this one. The Blaugrana have one of the most successful as well as potent squads in Europe, and are tipped as the heavy favourites to lift the trophy this year.
But while Barcelona's reputation will make every Manchester United fan shiver in fear, there is no certainty of the fixture going Barcelona's way. Manchester United's heroic comeback in the round of 16 will sound alarm bells for any opposition.
To put it in simple words, Manchester United might be vulnerable at times but with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm, the side is capable of achieving great heights and defeating anyone.
Solskjaer will need his men to hit top gear and produce an optimal performance if Manchester United are to reach the semifinals. Here, we list 5 men who need to be at their phenomenal best to help Manchester United oust Barcelona in the quarterfinals of this season's UCL:
#5 Ander Herrera
United will need someone to drive them, and to be the voice on the field. In other words, they need Ander Herrera to have his greatest night in the United shirt till date.
The Spaniard is one of the most inspirational figures on the field for Manchester United. His sheer dedication and urge to win have turned him into a fan favourite.
Barcelona will surely be enjoying a lot of the ball in their clash against Manchester United in the last 8, and Solskjaer will rely on Hererra to unleash his fire and help The Red Devils get the better of Lionel Messi and company.
#4 Victor Lindelof
Victor Lindelof will be facing the toughest challenge of his career when he comes up against a high flying Barcelona side.
Barcelona's strike force comprises of men like Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and more. But the one man who'll be the focal point of this matchup is the majestic Argentinian, Lionel Messi.
The little magician is arguably the greatest footballer of all time, and it's no secret that if Messi gets going then there is absolutely no power to stop the team.
Lindelof will be wary of how potent Messi is, and the Swede is set for the greatest battle of his career. Lindelof has firmly established himself as United's prime centreback, and Solskjaer identifies him as a dependable guy at the back.
Manchester United devotees will rest their hopes on Lindelof as the Swede will have to play out of his skin to fend off the Barcelona attacks.
#3 Paul Pogba
Manchester United's midfield maestro is widely considered one of the best in the world. Paul Pogba is a genius who can outwit any opposition in the world with his trickery and on-field brilliance.
As soon as Manchester United were drawn against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, the millions of avid Manchester United fans knew that if their side were to go past the LaLiga giants then Pogba had to be at his best throughout the two-legged tie.
Barcelona have one of the best squads in Europe; Ernesto Valverde's men are a lethal force capable of hurting any opposition. So if Solskjaer is to inflict a defeat over them, then he needs his best players to fire on all cylinders.
Pogba has all the talent in the world, and the Frenchman is capable of doing outrageous stuff with the ball at his feet. If he craves to be the best in the world, then this opportunity is perfect to announce himself as the supreme midfield general.
#2 Marcus Rashford
If there is one man who has benefited the most from Solskjaer's arrival, then it is the young Englishman Marcus Rashford. The United number 10 has been in blistering form ever since the Norwegian took over; the England international has been a key figure in United's late resurgence this season.
While Rashford's potential has never been in doubt, until last season it did seem like the forward needs some consistency to be the star man at United. Rashford's critics will be pleased to see the young man impress on a weekly basis under Solskjaer.
The Red Devils narrowly defeated PSG in the Round of 16, thanks to Rashford and his accuracy from the spot. The young starlet scored past Gianluigi Buffon to help his side edge out the French champions.
Manchester United fans believe Rashford will be their star forward for years to come. And the English striker will likely have to come up with something special if Manchester United are to go all the way in the tournament.
#1 David De Gea
The Spaniard will face his toughest task of the season when Manchester United take on Barcelona in the last 8 of the UEFA Champions League 2018-19.
David De Gea has arguably been the best Manchester United player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. De Gea has been quite sensational all throughout what we might call a rather mediocre period for Manchester United.
The Spanish shot-stopper is often considered among the best goalkeepers in the world. And if Solskjaer wants to proceed to the semifinals, then he needs De Gea to be at his best.
Lionel Messi and co will create many chances to score, and the Spaniard is set to be tested to the limit. But these are the nights which transform a man from a mere player to a 'legend'.
If De Gea wants his name to be mentioned in the same breath as Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van Der Saar, then he has to do what the aforementioned gentlemen did - and that is help Manchester United win the Champions League.
