Barcelona want to 'dominate' clash with Man Utd as Marc-Andre ter Stegen warns: 'We play differently to PSG'

Confident: Marc-Andre ter Stegen says Barcelona do not just want to defend their lead on Tuesday
AFP/Getty Images
Ben Hayward15 April 2019

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen admits Manchester United will be a dangerous opponent in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Camp Nou, but warned that the Catalans will be a different prospect to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side lost 2-0 at home to PSG in the last 16, but turned the tie around with an impressive 3-1 win in the return tie at the Parc des Princes.

In total, United have won three of their four away games in the Champions League this season and the Premier League side will need another statement win to advance after losing 1-0 at home to Barca at Old Trafford last Wednesday.

It was put to Ter Stegen in the pre-match press conference that United could be a threat after their turnaround in the last 16, but he said: “Well, we play differently to PSG.

“They are very dangerous and the result (from last week) is dangerous because it’s a slender advantage.

"We won’t be looking only to defend our lead, but to take a step forward, have the ball as we understand football and create chances to give ourselves a better result.”

In Pictures | Man Utd vs Barcelona, Champions League | 10/04/2019

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One of Barca’s biggest concerns is United’s pace on the break and Ter Stegen said: “They have very quick players and we have to deal with that well. They made things difficult (in the first leg). We want to go out and dominate the game.”

The German goalkeeper believes keeping a clean sheet could be key to progressing through to the last four.

“That’s one of the objectives,” he said. “But we want to extend our lead, not only defend.”

The 26-year-old was also asked about his United counterpart David De Gea and said: “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment and he is having a great season.

“He is one of the most important players at United. I’m sure his objective will be the same as mine – to keep a clean sheet and to help his team win the game.”

Barca have been buoyed in defence by the excellent performances from Gerard Pique this season and Ter Stegen was full of praise for the Catalan centre-back.

“Gerard is always there,” he said. “He always plays well. He is a player with a lot of experience, he’s important for us and it’s important for any team to have a solid backbone. We hope he carries on like that.”

Barca are seeking their first Champions League semi-final place since 2014-15, having crashed out in the last eight following a 3-0 loss in Rome last season.

“That was hard,” Ter Stegen said. “But a year has passed and we don’t want it to happen again. We have to look forward and we hope, with our fans behind us, that we can win tomorrow.”

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