Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson explains how Chris Smalling CAN stop Lionel Messi at Old Trafford

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson explains how Chris Smalling CAN stop Lionel Messi at Old Trafford
After inexplicably finishing fifth in the Ballon d’Or standings, Lionel Messi has seemingly decided to take out his anger on every defender who dares to try to stop him this season.The Argentine is dragging Barcelona towards the La Liga title and is preparing to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.3

Lionel Messi is currently in the form of his life

11 years ago, the Catalan side were knocked out of the Champions League by the Red Devils courtesy of a Paul Scholes wondergoal and fans can be sure Messi will be keen to exact his vengeance.Chris Smalling will be the man tasked with stopping the 31-year-old and, although he is confident of carrying out his task, the statistics suggest that confidence is misplaced.Simply put, Messi has been untouchable this season.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored eight goals in six Champions League games this season and assured fans at the start of the season Barca would do everything to wrestle the European cup back from rivals Real Madrid.

LIONEL MESSI'S STATS THIS SEASON

Not bad for the world's fifth-best player...

• 40 appearances
• 43 goals
• 21 assists
• 7 goals from free kicks
• 4 hat-tricks
• Top scorer in La Liga
• Top scorer in UCL
• Most assists in La Liga

Sir Alex Ferguson tried, and failed, to stop Messi in the 2009 and 2011 Finals, but revealed the almost barbaric methods he would now employ to stop the man hailed as the best ever.“You need centre-backs who are prepared to drop right on top of Messi and not worry about what is happening behind them,” the Scot wrote in his 2013 autobiography.“He will drift away to the side. Thats fine. Hes less of a threat on the side than he is through the centre.“After the inquest I told myself: When we play Barcelona next time in a Champions League final, I would have Jones and Smalling, or Smalling and Evans, right on top of Messi. I wasnt going to let him torture us again.”3

Ferguson gets within touching distance in 2008

While this tactic may seem somewhat archaic, the 77-year-old employed Park Ji-Sung to perform a similar task on Andrea Pirlo.The Premier League side travelled to the San Siro in March 2010 knowing they would have to stop the Italian to ensure they progressed.And, according to the man himself, it was executed perfectly as the midfielder did not get a sniff and United won 7-2 on aggregate.Pirlo revealed in his autobiography: “Even Sir Alex Ferguson, the purple-nosed manager who turned Manchester United into a fearsome battleship, couldnt resist the temptation. 3

Park Ji-Sung shadows Andrea Pirlo back in 2010

“He’s a man without blemish, but he ruined that purity just for a moment when it came to me. A fleeting shabbiness came over the legend that night.“At Milan, he unleashed Park Ji-sung to shadow me. He rushed about at the speed of an electron. He’d fling himself at me, his hands all over my back, trying to intimidate me. He’d look at the ball and not know what it was for.“They’d programmed him to stop me. His devotion to the task was almost touching. Even though he was a famous player, he consented to being used as a guard dog.”

---

Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, Tottenham latest and today's football gossip January 15, 2019 admin Gossip 0 Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE blog dedicated to the latest transfer news and rumours .
Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd

---

Celtic 2-1 Rangers: Chris Sutton slams Scottish FA for charging Scott Brown over Old Firm derby incidents. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has accused the Scottish Football Association of reaching 'a new low' over their decision to charge Scott Brown in the wake of the Hoops' defeat of Rangers.
Vauxhall - putting the Grandland X on the map - Daily Record

---

Worried Manchester United fans? How long every Premier League

---

What Sir Alex Ferguson told Man Utd at half-time to spark 5-3 comeback against Tottenham. Manchester United face Tottenham on Sunday in what will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's toughest challenge to
Mauricio Pochettino: Negotiating with Daniel Levy is not

---

Arsenal transfer news: How starting XI may look with four signings - Carrasco in, Ozil out ARSENAL have been linked with a number of new arrivals this summer, despite a limited transfer budget
Confirmed: The Arsenal starting XI to face Crystal Palace

---

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be nervous about Champions League final for ONE reason; Mohamed Salah celebrates wildly after giving the Reds the lead (Pic: GETTY) "Liverpool have a very good answer because if Salah stays up and out wide, he goes in and Wijnaldum will push on the right and that is how they play.
Jurgen Klopp hails Raheem Sterling's "brilliant" reaction to

---

Champions League final 2019: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino

---

Everton transfer news: Marco Silva eyes £35m deal for Bournemouth's Callum Wilson but Idrissa Gueye could be sold to raise funds by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 11h Everton are plotting an ambitious £35million bid for Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, according to reports.
The THREE names on Everton's shopping list as Marco Silva

---

Liverpool target £35m striker, Arsenal eye Celtic ace, Bale

---

The old White Hart Lane. Who was the best player for an opponent you have seen at Goodison Park? At his prime, Thierry Henry was probably the player I most feared. If you could make one change to matchday what would it be? A private bar, solely for my personal use, so I can get a pint at half-time quicker than usual!
The World's Top 10 Stadiums | Soccer Stadiums | San siro, San

---

Manchester United travel to the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday to face Huddersfield Town, knowing only a victory will do as they continue their fight for place in next year's UEFA Champions League.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer w arns Manchester United squad to meet

---