Right after the second morning session, coach Ernesto Valverde announced the list of 22 players traveling with Barcelona to Manchester. The most notable of these is the return of French star Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele's last appearance was in Barcelona's 5-1 win over Lyon in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on 13 March. In that match, the 21-year-old French striker only entered the field in the last 20 minutes of the match but still managed to score 1 goal.
Dembele has been absent due to injury for nearly four weeks. According to coach Ernesto Valverde, Dembele has recovered from the recent match against Atletico Madrid, but he cannot take any risks using this player.
According to Barcelona's announcement, Dembele was named in the squad to Manchester but there were no clear medical examination results. Dembele is likely to be benched in the Old Trafford game.
Dembele's return has given Barcelona their strongest squad. Attacking stars such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Coutinho are all ready to face M.U. In particular, Suarez and Coutinho, who played for Liverpool in the Premier League, also clearly showed their determination in the upcoming match.
In a recent interview, Philippe Coutinho affirmed that he would always be "double happy" if he defeated the Red Devils in the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals.
"Because Luis Suarez and I used to wear Liverpool's shirt and were booed by the M.U fans, it was inevitable. But they can't be difficult for me. As an advanced player, playing under such pressure makes me try harder," Coutinho shared.
"I understand that the matches against M.U always have special significance when I was playing for Liverpool, when the players and fans seemed to have a close connection with each other. I will never forget what I learned at Anfield. Now, even in another tournament and a new club, defeating M.U will make me twice as happy."
Hopefully, facing the old team's rival club will help Coutinho play harder, in the context of his poor form.
Since joining Barcelona, the Brazilian midfielder has played well, failing to make a strong impression on coach Ernesto Valverde and the fans. He needed a reliever to overcome public pressure.
In addition to the official players, coach Ernesto Valverde also brought 19-year-old rookie Jean-Clair Todibo. The French defender has not been registered to play in the Champions League, but coach Ernesto Valverde wants to help him gain experience to prepare for this top tournament.
The match between Barcelona and Manchester United will take place at 2:00 am on April 11. The first leg of this remarkable match was held at Old Trafford.
