Giggsy's advice for Ole against Barcelona

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has joked his old team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should put himself on the bench for the upcoming Champions League tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

We were paired with the Spanish league leaders in last Friday’s quarter-final draw and the first leg will be held at Old Trafford on 10 April, before the return fixture takes place in Spain six days later.

Twenty years have passed since Solskjaer scored what is arguably the most famous goal in Reds history – the late winner against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final at the Nou Camp.

Ole’s return to Barcelona this season has a touch of fate about it and Giggs offered some amusing advice for his Norwegian friend, while speaking exclusively to us at the Aon Training Complex.

“It’s tough – I think most people wanted to stay away from Barcelona [in the draw],” Ryan told us during a lengthy conversation. “Ole, especially, has got good memories of the Nou Camp. I don’t know whether he’ll put himself on the bench that night. He might have to think about that!

“After beating PSG in the manner we did, with the spirit and character showed, I don’t think anybody will be looking forward to facing us either.”

Solskjaer’s United qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals with an incredible 3-1 away win against Paris Saint-Germain, who were heavily tipped to progress following a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

That success in France was particularly remarkable because the squad was missing 10 first-team players through injury, and influential midfielder Paul Pogba was also suspended for the tie.

“I think it’s up there as one of the greatest-ever performances, especially away from home in Europe,” Giggs explained to us. “Not many people fancied us with a full team, never mind with the injury problems we had and the suspension to Paul. So, to do that, in the manner we did, against a team full of quality, it has to rank as one of the greatest ever.”