Solskjaer: We can score at the Nou Camp

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fancies his Manchester United team to score an away goal against Barcelona on Tuesday night, as the Reds attempt to overturn a slender first-leg defeat in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Here's what the Reds' manager had to say in his post-match interview with BT Sport and press conference...

Overall assessment

“There are pluses and negatives. I thought we started sloppy and we were a bit nervous on the ball. We didn't really get the pressure on them. After their goal, we settled a bit and we played well. We had some very good performances from some individuals as well, in midfield there – I thought they did really well.

”At times it felt like a proper Man United team. The crowd was behind us, we got wide, we put in crosses. Sometimes those crosses end up with a header on goal and sometimes you miss them.“

Barcelona's goal - and United's response

”We didn't start great, but it was a great goal with great movement by Messi and Suarez, I have to say. They're a little bit fortunate that it comes off Luke and changes direction, so of course that's a blow. But then we settled well. You could see straightaway when they scored, the team gathered together and said let's stay in this game. Not like PSG and go another goal behind. We're still in this tie.“

McTominay impressed

“It was a fantastic game for Scott. Every time he plays for us he is improving. He's a great athlete, he can run all day long. He wins challenges, he's quick on his feet. He was composed, brought the ball down a few times. He started settling us to be fair.

”He comes into the training ground every day with a fantastic attitude and that’s the way to improve. Every game he plays, he grows and grows and, today, he was one of the first ones to take the ball down and settle us. We had to slow the game down as we were too quick to give the ball away and, after 15-20 minutes, I thought we settled a bit and the three midfielders did really well.“

Clear chances were lacking

”[We lacked] that little quality towards the end, but then again we're playing against a good team. We know when you play against Barcelona you have to defend a lot without the ball and you might be a little bit tired when you get the chances yourself. There's positives to take, we can tighten up a few things and we'll go there with one thing in mind: we have to score.“

Messi kept quiet

”He's a fantastic player and you see the cross for the goal, his awareness and his technique. We did as well as we could against him and we kept our shape well at times. It could have gone both ways. It wasn't the night for chances, I don't think we hit a shot on target once and that's one of the disappointments because Rashy had a decent chance, Diogo had a chance there. When Anthony came through towards the end normally he takes a touch but he toe pokes it.“

Paris was a mountain to climb... what about Barcelona?

“We'll go there with work to be done, but with a chance. Of course we're playing against a great team here. It's a tough one. But we've done it before. We'll go there with the knowledge we can score over there. Of course, the PSG performance away gives us hope and belief that we can do it but we know we’re playing against probably the favourites in the tournament and we’re going to the Nou Camp.

”It’s a challenge and it would be a greater achievement, winning that one with the history of Barcelona as well. They are not used to losing at home but we can do it, no doubt. We can carry a goal threat. Ant, Rom, Rashy... whoever is playing up there, we just have to provide a bit more ammunition and create chances for them.

“We need to hit the target. We created a couple of very good opportunities. Rashy had a volley after a cross was punched out and Dalot had a great chance at the back post. You have to take your chances. We must be very effective and efficient over there. We know we’re not going to create loads of chances so we have to take the ones we get. We have to soak up the pressure, we expect them to want to kill the tie and put the sword into us, but you have to soak it up and break and, at times, keep the ball better than we did tonight.”