Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano wary of Manchester United: They are a very strong team with a fantastic manager and it will be really difficult

Javier Mascherano, Barcelona (Getty Images)

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Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano is expecting a tough match against Manchester United in the upcoming Champions League final.

The two teams face each other at Wembley on Saturday and Argentine feels there is not much between them.

“In a final, there are no favourites,” he told Football Focus.

“It is one game so it depends how the teams are on the day.

“We will try to do everything we can to win, in the 90 minutes, or 120 minutes.

“We don’t know how long it will take but we have confidence in ourselves.”

Both clubs won their domestic leagues this season and the ex-Liverpool man was full of praise for his opponents and their manager.

“They are a very good team, very strong,” he added.

“They have a fantastic manager. He has a lot of experience in Europe and in the Premier League.

“They are one of the biggest teams in the world. We have to be careful because they know how to play finals. It will be really, really difficult.”

The 26-year-old also admitted Barcelona will have to be wary of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, who have bagged 35 goals between them this season.

He added: “Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world. He is a key player for them.

“Hernandez is a very, very good player. I knew him when he was in Mexico but it was a big surprise when he came to England.

“He is having a fantastic season. We have to be careful with both of them because they are really good players and really dangerous.”

Despite featuring in both legs of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final matches over fierce rivals Real Madrid, Mascherano is not guaranteed to start at Wembley.

“I don’t know if I will play but it doesn’t matter,” he said Mascherano,

“The main thing is the team will be in the final and will do everything to try to win.”