A game between Barça-Manchester United is always an attractive proposition. Whether it is in the final of a Champions League as was the case in 2009 and 2011, or even when both sides face each other on the other side of the planet. Tonight’s game in San Francisco is not the first meeting of both clubs on US soil, the played there in 2003 and 2011. But tonight’s contest does pose an interesting battle of the coaches, as the master and his student come head to head.
Luis Enrique has always said that he has learned all he knows from his former coaches and Louis van Gaal sat on the Barça bench on two occasions (1997-2000 and 2002-03). It certainly wasn’t the club’s finest hour with the institution in some turmoil. Today both individuals find themselves in different situations, with plenty of overlaps. Both are coaches of two of the biggest names in global football and are faced with the responsibility of getting the best out of groups of multimillionaire sportsmen.
Everything points to De Gea starting in goal for United. His last game for the club? Only Van Gaal knows that. He’s in no mood to give away his star goalkeeper who has one more year on his Old Trafford contract. It’s also expected that Pedro will get more playing time after his conversation with Luis Enrique in which he pleaded for more match action.
Manchester United start their Premier League campaign on August 8 against Spurs. Three days later Barça face Sevilla in Tiblisi in the European Super Cup final. Today the face each other in a game which is always interesting to watch. Always.