MX23RW : Monday, April 15 10:19:07| >> :600:331274:331274:
Apr 16, 2019 at 8pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Barcelona
vs.
Man UtdManchester United

Romelu Lukaku demands "desire and more quality" from United

Romelu Lukaku demands
© Reuters
United trail 1-0 from the first leg at Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku called for more confidence, arrogance and focus as Manchester United look to reach the Champions League semi-finals by overcoming Barcelona next week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side face an uphill battle at the Nou Camp after Luke Shaw inadvertently gave Barca a 1-0 win in Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.

United rallied after that early setback and unsettled Ernesto Valverde's side on numerous occasions, giving Lukaku and his team-mates confidence of a memorable turnaround in Spain next Tuesday.

"We have to believe and have the desire and more quality than today," the Belgium striker said. "Be better on the ball and then you never know what can happen in football.

"I don't think we played with the same arrogance and confidence on the ball (early on). Second half we tried and the first 20 minutes of the second half we were there.

"It's something we have to do for the whole 90 minutes over there and not concede a goal and score early."

That approach worked well at Paris St Germain last month as United made Champions League history by becoming the first side to progress having lost the first leg at home by two or more goals.

Manchester United pulled off a stunning Champions League win in Paris
Manchester United pulled off a stunning Champions League win in Paris (John Walton/PA)

The Parc des Princes triumph was the highlight of a topsy-turvy campaign for the Old Trafford giants, but even during the difficult Jose Mourinho era they managed to seal a last-gasp 2-1 comeback win at Juventus.

Asked if those two matches will play on Barcelona's mind, Lukaku said: "Yeah, but I don't think they will look at us, we have to look at ourselves, get a result and give our all, run as much as we can."

Wednesday saw United fail to muster a shot on target for the first time in a Champions League match since 2005, but there was some promising build-up play.

"Definitely (they are beatable)," Lukaku added. "On the day you can score from one chance and that's what they did today.

Barcelona had a win to celebrate at Old Trafford
Barcelona had a win to celebrate at Old Trafford (Nick Potts/PA)

"There was a lack of concentration and they scored a goal and from that moment on we tried to control, but I think over there we have to do a better job and stay focused a bit more, we know they have players who make late runs.

"For us we have to go with the desire, be focused and when the chance comes, we have to score."

United defender Victor Lindelof echoed those sentiments ahead of Tuesday's return leg.

"It is a good team," he said after the 1-0 home loss.

"They have very good players and right now I am just angry we didn't get a better result. That is football.

"It is different (to PSG). It will be a different game. We have belief in our team that we can do great things and we have shown that before, so we just have to improve a little bit, go down to Barcelona and do our best."


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Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in action during his side's Premier League clash with Fulham on February 9, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool34267177205785
2Manchester CityMan City33272486226483
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs332211064343067
4Chelsea34206857362166
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd33197763441964
6Arsenal32196765402563
7Leicester CityLeicester34145154645147
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33138124142-147
9Everton34137144644246
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham34126164252-1042
12Bournemouth34125174961-1241
13Crystal Palace34116174046-639
14Burnley34116174260-1839
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle34108163243-1138
16Southampton3399153954-1536
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3296173251-1933
18Cardiff CityCardiff3384212863-3528
RFulham3455243276-4420
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3435261967-4814

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