Rooney: Bring on Barcelona!
Published 23:13 15/03/11 By David McDonnell
Wayne Rooney has no fear of facing the mighty Barcelona after Manchester United booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Javier Hernandez scored twice and United survived a nervy final 10 minutes after Marseille pulled a goal back to go through to Friday's last eight draw.
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Despite Barcelona, who swept aside Arsenal, being the team favourites and the side everyone wants to avoid, Rooney said Sir Alex Ferguson's men feel they can beat anyone.
Asked if United feared Barca, Rooney said: "No. If you're going to win this tournament, you have to play anyone and beat them.
"We're thankful to be in the next round but whoever we get, we'll be confident we can win it."
United's joy at going through was tempered by injuries to John O'Shea and Rafael Da Silva, which leaves Fergie with just four fit defenders.
O'Shea and Rafael joined Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans on the injured list after both were forced off with hamstring problems.
Fergie said: "The injuries were the biggest problem because the balance of team moved a lot with two defenders coming off.
"Without Ferdinand and Vidic, then losing O'Shea and Rafael, we had a lack of experience which could have cost us, but we held on."
Like Rooney, Fergie said he had no fear of meeting Barcelona in the next round, despite them beating United 2-0 with ease in the 2009 final in Rome.
"It's a great tournament, every team has quality," said Fergie. "You take who you get. You can't pick your opponents. Whoever it is, you get on with it."
Hernandez took his goal tally to 16 in his debut season and Fergie added: "We thought it would take some time to adjust and would mainly use him as a substitute.
"When he came on he won a few games for us, but he's lasting the 90 minutes now and it's giving us options."
Hernandez scored in the fifth and 75th minutes before Marseille pulled one back through a Wes Brown own goal eight minutes from time.
An equaliser would have sent Marseille through on away goals but United held on to secure their place in the last eight.
