Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United need luck against Barcelona in Champions League final claims Gary Lineker
ShareFormer Barcelona striker Gary Lineker believes Manchester United will have to rely on luck or for the Spanish champions to be below-par to win the Champions League.[LNB]Pep Guardiola's side are favourites going into the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, as they aim to repeat their 2009 success against the Red Devils.[LNB]'Barca have got to have a bad day for United to realistically have a chance. Either that or United get lucky. If Barcelona turn up, they win,' said former England captain Lineker.[LNB] Repeat? Barcelona won the 2009 Champions League final in Rome after defeating Manchester United[LNB]He added: 'If they played 10 times, United might win one or two of them, there would maybe be a couple of draws and Barca would win the rest.'[LNB]Lineker however did admit that with the game being played in England in a one-off tie, United's chances do increase.[LNB]'The fact it is in England and they will probably get the vast majority of the support and it is 90 minutes, not two legs, gives them a better chance,' said the BBC presenter.[LNB]Both sides have been recently crowned domestic champions but although United won the title by nine points, their current squad is not seen as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's strongest in recent years.[LNB]In contrast, Barcelona's line-up is being touted to eventually become one of the best club sides ever - with their passing game seen as the benchmark for other teams to match around the globe.[LNB] Danger man: Lionel Messi's semi-final exploits against Real Madrid underlined his credentials as one of the world's finest players[LNB]Lineker speaking on BBC Radio 5 live also believes the current crop at the Nou Camp can become one of the greatest sides ever seen.[LNB]'Time will tell, but potentially they could be the best club side ever,' he claimed. 'They are on their way to possibly doing so.[LNB]'They are going to compete with the great club sides; the great Liverpool teams, the AC Milan side and Real Madrid of way back.[LNB]But to do that I think they have got to be prolific winners of the Champions League. If they can beat Manchester United and then win two or three more in the next few years, with their style of football, in the modern game, they could well become the best side ever. They are certainly the best side I've witnessed in terms of the attractiveness of their football, the way they have moved the game on.'[LNB] Another success: Sir Alex Ferguson lifts the trophy following United's last Champions League win in 2008[LNB]United are aiming to win the Champions League for the third time under Sir Alex Ferguson - who is on to repeat of his double success of 2008 when he also won the league title.[LNB]Lineker already thinks the 69-year-old is one of the greatest managers in the history of the game and suggested the pressure will be off the Scot ahead of the final this Saturday.[LNB]Goal machine: Lineker scored 44 goals in 99 games for Barcelona between 1986 and 1989[LNB]'I think Sir Alex Ferguson is already the greatest British manager,' said Lineker. 'He is not just one of the greatest British managers but one of the greatest in world football. His record speaks for itself. It is there to compare with anyone and it is better than anyone.[LNB]'He has already won the Champions League twice, he has won 12 titles and numerous FA Cups and everything else that goes with that. Even if they lose this one it won't be down to him, it will be because Barcelona are a truly incredible side.'[LNB]Speaking on how Ferguson can stop the Catalan giants, Lineker, who is UEFA's Champions League final ambassador, thinks United's best hope is for key players in the opposition to pull-out in the warm-up.[LNB]'It is going to be very difficult," he said. "The problem you have with Barcelona is getting the ball off them.[LNB]'I think Alex will play the way he has been playing in recent weeks with Hernandez up front, Rooney off him, flood the midfield as much as he can and counter-attack as quickly as possible.[LNB]'But Barcelona are so good, you can have all the plans in the world but if [Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi are on song, you are in trouble. United's best chance is if Messi pulls up in the warm-up!'[LNB] Countdown to Champions League final: Man United's route to WembleyWe won't fall for your dirty tricks! United defender Vidic warns BarcelonaSix of the best! Previous clashes matches between Barca and UnitedArsenal help out Barca as ash cloud forces flight to London two days earlyAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Xavi, Gary Lineker Places: Barcelona, Liverpool, United Kingdom
