A Luke Shaw Own Goal Gives Barcelona A Slender Advantage In Their Champions League Quarter-final Tie

McTominay and Smalling speak

McTominay and Fred enhanced their reputation today with strong performances in central midfield. Here are the post-match thoughts of McTominay and Smalling.

Smalling: “For a large spell were pressed quite high and made it difficult for them. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get that goal. From half time we really got at them and caused them so many problems ... We knew we had to bring that intensity that they’re not used to every week.

McTominay: “We showed them far too much respect in the first 15 minutes in terms of how we went to press. After that, we took control and were the better side. They’re going to have patches where they get the ball ... it’s not as easy as saying ‘go out there and press like mayhem’ but we did well ... We just have to do more in front of goal. That’s up to the whole team to create more. But it’s only half-time. We’re Manchester United, you can never write us off.”

Full-time: United 0-1 Barcelona

Ultimately an own goal was the key difference between the sides, which is fitting because it was a scruffy game. Neither team looks like potential winners of the tournament but one of them will advance to the semi-final ... and United have grounds for hoping it could yet be them, bearing in mind what happened in Paris in the last round. But they will need to be far sharper up front and hope Barcelona play this poorly again.