Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes warned him that the club are in for a tough game when they face LASK on Thursday.
Providing the game isn't called off due to the coronavirus outbreak, United will face the Austrian side in Linz in the Europa League last-16 first leg.
United have never faced LASK in a competitive fixture and the side remain a relative unknown but midfielder Fernandes has some useful experience after playing against them earlier in the season for Sporting Lisbon.
The side were in the same group as LASK and defeated them 2-1 at home, with Fernandes grabbing a goal, but lost 3-0 away. Though the Portuguese didn't play in the defeat he has warned Solskjaer that it won't be easy for United.
“To be fair, when we got the draw, it was useful that Bruno was there," Solskjaer told United's website.
"He said it’s going to be a very tough game. They lost against them but won 2-1 at home. They lost away from home but obviously he mentioned he didn’t play in that one! He said it will be a hard game for us and the players must be ready.
"They are ahead of Salzburg in the league. We’ve seen them knock out Alkmaar quite easily, really comfortably. This is a tough game.
"They play a certain style of football they are used to – high energy, high tempo, they’re very good at set-pieces and know the system. So this is going to be a challenge for our boys.”
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, the match will be played behind closed doors and Solskjaer has told his players it's something they're going to have to adapt to.
“We just have to handle it and create our own atmosphere and make sure we don’t get distracted by that. It’s always miles better to play with fans. It’s how football should be played," he added.
“They’ve played in games on the training ground behind closed doors, when we invite different teams. We’ll make sure we’re ready and have the team spirit and atmosphere within the team, knowing it’s a very important game for us, and focus on playing football.”
