Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who faced Lionel Messi many times, has revealed how his team stopped the Argentine in 2008.
Scholes wrote about the four-time Ballon d'Or winner in his column for The Independent.
"So these are some of the little things that you learn when you play against the man himself which you might not see on the television," he wrote. "First off, he never speaks on the pitch. In fact, I don't think I ever heard him say a word. Second, you won't believe how strong he is for a little man.
"When you try to face up to him and make a tackle you know what it is he is going to do with the ball. The problem is staying with him."
He went on to describe the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2008, where United beat the Catalans and revealed how he and his teammates contained Messi.
"I have never seen a United performance with such a high level of concentration as when we beat Barcelona at Old Trafford," he continued.
"There was never any specific plan to deal with Messi, simply that whoever was nearest picked him up. Rio Ferdinand had two great games against him in 2008 but no one keeps him quiet every time.
"When you prepare to play Barcelona you go through the usual weaknesses. But you can only exploit those weaknesses when you have the ball. We had 37 per cent possession in the 2011 game and we were used to having a lot more."
Scholes faced Lionel Messi on four occasions during his career. Twice over the two-legged Champions League semi-final in 2008 and again in the 2009 and 2011 finals.
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