Manchester United vs FC Barcelona: 'Europe respects us now' says Marcos Rojo ahead of Champions League quarter-final
Rojo believes United's comeback in Paris has made the continent sit up and pay attention
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Marcos Rojo has claimed that Manchester United has won the respect of all of Europe after their incredible comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League second round.
United looked to be heading out of the continent's top-tier club competition after caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his side go down 2-0 at Old Trafford.
However, goals from Romelu Lukaku and then a last-gasp penalty from Marcus Rashford completed a memorable comeback in the French capital that virtually handed Solskjaer the permanent job.
“For me, after Paris, everything changed," Rojo told MUTV.
"I reckon that all the teams in Europe are now starting to look at us differently and to show us a little bit more respect because this is a great club with so much history and I reckon that in these games that counts for a lot.
"And I don’t think there’s any team out there who really wants to come to Old Trafford to play United. In fact I’m sure of that, so we have a lot of things in our favour, like being at home in front of our own fans to give us the chance to take a lead over there.”
FC Barcelona are the visitors to Old Trafford on Wednesday night, however, and the Spanish champions are overwhelming favourites after a win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday all but sealed their fourth La Liga title in five years. Now their sole focus is the Champions League, with Lionel Messi more determined than ever to add to his haul of big-eared trophies and the club consumed by a desire to knock Real Madrid off their perch.
"Of course, Barcelona have huge experience of playing in lots of finals and semifinals in the Champions League for a good few years now. But we have our own strengths too, and we have to know how to make best use of them.
"They will be favourites to go through but we are going to give everything we've possibly got to ensure that we go through."
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