Solskjaer reacts to Champions League draw

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt “it had to be” Barcelona when Manchester United's next challenge in the Champions League was confirmed by Friday's quarter-finals draw.

Our caretaker manager is already relishing his return to the stadium where he scored his legendary winning goal in the 1999 final of the competition against Bayern Munich.

Ole told us on Friday afternoon: “Yes, it had to be [Barcelona]!

”I’ve had so many texts from friends saying this year is going to be the year that we’ll get through because of my number, 20, and it being 20 years ago.

“We’re off to the Nou Camp again!”

Referring back to the Treble-sealing trip to Barcelona in May 1999, Solskjaer added: “It was the biggest night I’ve had in football. Of course, for all of us in that team, it was an unbelievable night.

”It’s a great stadium… and, of course, we met them in the group stages as well that year – 3-3 each both home and away. It’ll be a good game.“

“We want these games against the biggest clubs and the biggest teams,” the Norwegian continued.

“We had the finals against them in 2009 and 2011 and the semi-final in 2008 when Scholesy [Paul Scholes] scored, and it’s those games that our supporters and this club crave.

”We are looking forward to this one.“

United will host Barcelona first at Old Trafford on Wednesday 10 April before travelling to the Catalan city six days later, for the away leg on Tuesday 16 April.