Manchester United midfielder, Juan Mata has said the Man Utd team spirit will be tested after back to back defeats to Arsenal and Wolves in the FA Cup.
United suffered their first Premier League defeat since Solskjaer took over in going down away to Arsenal after their stunning Champions League comeback at Paris Saint-Germain.
After that came the a 2-1 defeat at Molineux on Saturday that knocked United out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Mata said, “It hurts to say that Saturday’s defeat against Wolves was deserved, as it saw us head out of the FA Cup and you all know the hopes that we had riding on this competition, especially after progressing through some really tough knock-out ties,” Mata wrote in his regular blog.
“We fought until the very last minute but they were better than us and we have to accept it. These are the kinds of situations that put your personality and the spirit in the dressing room to the test, which is something we’ve talked about when we have been winning.
“I’m sure that we are going to leave this defeat behind and head towards the most important part of the season with our batteries fully charged after the international break. The time is approaching.”
On Barcelona, “Obviously, it is a huge challenge, but this is what this club is made of, overcoming adversity, demanding a lot from yourself and wanting to win,”
“As Barca are one of the toughest opponents in world football, we will have to put all of that into practice.
“For the boss, returning to Camp Nou will be very special, as well as for everyone who was there on that special night in May 1999.
“This tie will ask us to put in a huge effort, but we are ready to give our best to try to go through.
“In La Liga, Barca beat Real Betis, thanks to another masterclass from Lionel Messi, and we will have to hope that he isn’t so inspired when we play against them.”
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