Jordi Cruyff is relishing a “special” Europa League tie between Barcelona and Manchester United but thinks it is a shame they will not meet later in the competition.
Barca finished behind Bayern Munich and Inter in Champions League Group C, plunging them into the Europa League for a second consecutive season.
Monday s knockout round play-off draw handed the Catalan giants a heavyweight clash with United, which Xavi lamented as the most difficult assignment possible.
Blaugrana sporting director Cruyff, who represented both clubs during his playing days, would like such a mouthwatering tie to have taken place in the latter stages of the Europa League.
I think it s a draw that both teams would have preferred to have further down the line, not so quick, but that s the beauty of football, you never know what s going to come, Cruyff said.
It came now, and it s probably going to be a tough match for both, but also very special as these are two historic football clubs.
Barcelona is a club where the pressure is always at the max, everything you start, you always need to win. That s the pressure that these sorts of clubs have, the same that United will have.
For us, it s a motivation and the fact that we get a team like this so quickly means that this competition isn t easy at all. It s difficult, but you know that we re motivated.
Barca have fond memories of their recent fixtures against United, having beaten the Red Devils in four successive meetings – including Champions League final triumphs in 2009 and 2011.
Ready to run it back in February ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
