Manchester United and Barcelona were both handed the Europa League draw neither side wanted – each other.
Barcelona boss Xavi bemoaned his side having ‘no luck’, and he has since been quizzed on playing against Cristiano Ronaldo again.
Xavi competed against Ronaldo as a player, at Manchester United and Real Madrid, and the Portuguese superstar has a storied career lining up against Barcelona.
His record stands at 20 goals in 34 games against Barcelona, and he will be motivated to score against them again.
Xavi insisted he will not be paying special attention to Ronaldo, at least at this early stage months in advance of the match.
Xavi comments on facing Cristiano Ronaldo
Quoted by Spanish newspaper Marca, Xavi says Barcelona cannot afford to devote a gameplan to stopping just one Manchester United player.
He still paid respect to Ronaldo and insisted he was still capable of making a decisive impact.
He explained: “They have great players, individuals, but I would highlight the group.
“We will analyse them well. It’s a great team, not just because of Cristiano.
“It’s a great team, a historic club and they need to win.
“I think he is a great player. He has marked an era in world football and can still make a difference.”
Ronaldo is no guarantee to still be part of Manchester United’s team for the games which will take place in February.
There is a whole January transfer window to get through, where Ronaldo might be tempted away if there is a Champions League team which wants him, while United could also be prepared to cash in, if there is an offer.
But if Ronaldo is still a United player for the ties, he will have a role to play, and his mere presence will be a distraction for Barcelona which could work in the Red Devils favour.
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