'Lionel Messi was difference class and Barcelona were a couple of levels above us', admits Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Champions League drubbing By Press Association Published: 23:06 BST, 16 April 2019 | Updated: 23:06 BST, 16 April 2019 Viewcomments Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Barcelona were 'a couple of levels' above Manchester United after their Champions League exit. The Red Devils boss also hailed Lionel Messi as the 'difference' between the sides after the Argentine scored twice in the first-half to banish United's hopes of another improbable Champions League comeback at the Nou Camp. A wonder strike from Philippe Coutinho ushered Barcelona towards a 3-0 victory, 4-0 on aggregate, on Tuesday night. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his Euro hopes dashed by Lionel Messi's first-half brace in Barcelona Afterwards Solskjaer felt the two games had shown the enormity of the task facing the United boss. He said: 'If you want the result you need a performance and we started well and created some decent chances but then he (Messi) hits it in the bottom corner and I've got to say, it's top quality. He was the difference. 'He is a different class, him and Cristiano (Ronaldo) are the best players of the past decade and tonight he (Messi) showed his quality. That's the quality we have to aspire to. Paul Pogba was one of several big names who failed to deliver on the big stage on Tuesday The Manchester United boss must now try to lift his players and finish in the top four 'If we want to get back to Manchester United's true tradition and level we have got to get to challenge the Barcelonas, and I've got to say they were a couple of levels above us in those 90 minutes and at Old Trafford. 'We want to play these games next year so we've got a massive week coming up and now we have to concentrate on the league.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility