Wilshere tells United to get physical

Jack Wilshere has some simple advice for Manchester United ahead of their Champions League final against Barcelona – get in their faces.

Wilshere was part of the Arsenal outfit that shocked Barcelona with a 2-1 win in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League in February.

The 19-year-old was also on the park to witness Barcelona – particularly Lionel Messi – return the favour 20 days later at the Camp Nou, winning 3-1 in the second leg and bundling out the Gunners.

Now, Arsenal’s league rivals United are set to take on the Spanish champions at Wembley on Saturday, and Wilshere has offered some first-hand knowledge to manager Sir Alex Ferguson and co.

“You have to get in their faces,” Wilshere told The Independent.

“I have said it before: you really have to hold your shape.”

“United have a better chance than we have. They will be good because they have the players like (Darren) Fletcher who will get after Barca.”

“For most of it they will be defending because that is what Barcelona do to you.”

“I’d watched them play against us the year before at the Emirates and everyone kept saying you have to defend or you’re not going to get near them. I thought, ‘It can’t be that bad’.”

“But for that first 20 minutes I don’t think I’ve ever run so far in my life. We got the ball and they had three closing us down every time and just got it back. We couldn’t keep the ball.”

“You have to stop players like Xavi, Messi and (Andres) Iniesta or they will kill you.”

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson’s son, Darren, has predicted his father will still be managing at Old Trafford in 2016, taking his reign at the club to an incredible 30 years.

The 69-year-old is on the cusp of his third Champions League title with United, having also led the club to their 19th English Premier League title this season.

But Darren, who is one win away from taking Peterborough United back into the Championship, believes his father will not be contemplating retiring any time soon.

“He’s just going to go on and on,” the younger Ferguson told The Telegraph.

“Wherever it ends, it ends. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s there in five years’ time, as long as his health’s fine.”