Manchester United is hopeful striker Marcus Rashford will be in contention for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Barcelona after recovering from an ankle injury, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Tuesday. Rashford, who has been managing various injuries in recent weeks, missed both of England's Euro 2020 qualifiers in March as well as United's 2-1 league defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers last week but was part of Tuesday's training session. "He needed the extra warmup, hopefully he won't get a reaction. He couldn't join the boxes which is the fun part of training, let's see tomorrow. Hopefully he'll be ready," Solskjaer told a news conference. United is also sweating on the fitness of Nemanja Matic, who was on the bench against Wolves due to a muscle issue while fellow midfielder Ander Herrera is a doubt with a knock. Striker Alexis Sanchez trained for the first time with the squad since overcoming a knee ligament injury, but Wednesday's meeting with his former teamcomes too soon for him. "He's done lots of recovery work. He's injury free. He'll probably be in the squad for West Ham United (in the Premier League) Saturday. He's not going to be able to join in tomorrow," Solskjaer added. United was beaten 2-0 by Paris St Germain in its round of 16 first leg at Old Trafford before sealing a memorable 3-1 win in Paris to progress on away goals. Solskjaer is aware of the need to avoid a similar blip at home against Barcelona. "We know we need to perform to our best levels, which we didn't against PSG at home. The outcome of the second leg gave the players and supporters belief," the Norwegian said. "When you get Barcelona, with the quality of their team, we know we need to step up our game." The French World Cup winner Paul Pogba will start for just the second time in a Champions League knockout game for United. Benched for both legs of a bitterly disappointing last 16 exit to Sevilla last season by Jose Mourinho due to personal differences and poor performances, Pogba's only previous start ended in a red card and a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain back in February. Without their suspended star, a youthful United side pulled off a miraculous 3-1 win in Paris to make it to the last eight for the first time in five years and give Pogba another chance to shine on the Champions League stage. When United and Barca met in the Champions League final in 2009, it was the Red Devils who were pre-match favorites. Instead, Lionel Messi was on target as Pep Guardiola's side emerged victorious in Rome, and he struck again when the sides met again in the final two years later. Messi is still Barca's inspiration and with him they have made the last eight every season since. By contrast, this is just United's second quarterfinal in the last eight years. Tadic and Ajax set sights on Juventus In the wake of Ajax's stunning victory against holder Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, the headlines across Europe were mainly about the new golden generation emerging in Amsterdam. The club of Johan Cruyff, and of Louis van Gaal's side that lifted the trophy in 1995, are into their first Champions League quarterfinal since 2003 with a team packed with products of their famed youth system. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong, aged 21 and headed for Barcelona at the end of the season, and 19-year-old defender Matthijs de Ligt are the brightest young stars in a side that triumphed 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the most decisive player in this Champions League campaign for Ajax — which continues into Wednesday's quarterfinal first leg against Juventus — is a grizzled veteran by comparison. Dusan Tadic, at 30, was the oldest member of coach Erik ten Hag's line-up in Madrid, with the sole exception of 32-year-old Dane Lasse Schoene. Tadic has scored 20 league goals, and has added nine assists — those figures make him the most decisive player in the Netherlands since Luis Suarez with Ajax in 2009/10. — Agencies
