Barca loss will help Solskjaer's rebuild, says Fletcher

Manchester United's loss against Barcelona will help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rebuild the squad more effectively, according to former midfielder Darren Fletcher.

Lionel Messi grabbed a brace and Philippe Coutinho curled one in from distance as United were beaten 3-0 on the night, after a 1-0 loss in the first leg at Old Trafford.

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And Fletcher believes that games such as that are revealing of each player's character and feels the knowledge of which squad members are mentally prepared to face adversity will help Solskjaer as he looks to overhaul the squad at the end of the season.

“Last night when you’re 3-0 down, that’s when you’re looking at the character of your players," Fletcher said on talkSPORT. 

"Who’s still playing? Who has not given in?

“He’ll have learned probably more from that than he has from winning games.

“The challenge is down to the players now.

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the manager, so from now until the end of the season your performances have got to reflect if you want to be part of Manchester United’s future.

“If you don’t, thanks very much. The club is too big, we’ll move on, we’ll get new players.

“That’s the challenge ahead for these players now.

“Everyone has got to step up now. I think it’s a test of who wants to be there."

The Red Devils must dust themselves down and go again, with a fierce top-four battle to see to in the Premier League. Failure would result in the absence of Champions League football at Old Trafford next season, something the club can ill-afford when trying to lure top players.

United sit sixth at present, two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and fifth-placed Chelsea, although the Blues have played an extra game. 

Solskjaer's men have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions, however, and their poor form comes at a bad time, with fixtures against Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea still to come. 

Their final two games of the season look easy enough on paper, visiting relegated Huddersfield and hosting struggling Cardiff, but if they fail to take enough points from their next three games it could be too little, too late.