Messi dismisses talk of Manchester lacking quality

Barcelona's two-time world player of the year, Lionel Messi, has dismissed suggestions that Manchester United lack the quality of previous squads ahead of the two sides' Champions League final on Saturday in London.

The match will be a repeat of the 2009 final in Rome when Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0, with Messi scoring the second goal.

Some in the English media have suggested Manchester United were crowned champions for a record 19th time earlier this month despite lacking the sparkle of past squads but Messi said he did not think the team was any weaker than in 2009.

"They won the English championship and they are in the Champions League final. They can't be very weak if they have achieved all that," said the 23-year-old. "It is a final; it is a special match given what is at stake."