MANCHESTER United defender Tyrell Malacia has suggested how the side can overcome the tough challenge of Barcelona in their UEFA Europa League tie.
The two European giants go to battle tonight at Old Trafford in the second leg of their Europa League play-offs tie, after the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou last Thursday.
Malacia said he and his colleagues have to be prepared to win ‘ugly’ if needed in order advance to the round of 16.
“You have to be on your A-game because normally it’s – at the end [in the final] it’s one game – but now it’s two games, so you have to be on your A-game because if you lose, you’re out of the tournament. It’s important,” the Netherlands left-back, who reached the Conference League final with Feyenoord last season, told Manchester United’s website.
“Especially with this coach [Erik ten Hag], you want to play good football, but at the end, the result is the most important thing.
“Sometimes you have to win in an ugly way, those kind of games you also have.”
Malacia believes United’s progress this season has been due to unity in the squad, with the players supportive of each other.
“Everybody, even if you are on the bench, you pull for everyone, you cheer for everyone, and we go for everyone,” he added.
“Even when some small things happen on the pitch, you see everyone is there involved, so that’s important I think.”
