Jules Kounde has warned Manchester United that they'll be facing a better Barcelona in Thursday's Europa League showdown.
The two European giants met last week for a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou, as a late Raphinha equaliser denied United an away victory. Barcelona dominated spells of the game but weren't at their best, and Kounde is "completely sure" that he and his team-mates will respond with an improved performance at Old Trafford.
"I think they're always pressure," the French right-back told a pre-match press conference. "It's that pressure that you like, each of us want to play in big games and the pressure is positive. I think everybody is up for giving that bit extra. I'm completely sure we will respond tomorrow."
Kounde added: "I think we have to make another step beyond what we did last week, although I think we played well. I think we need to up our intesnity, to press high, to win the ball back and cause them damage. If we press them, they will give us things."
The 24-year-old France international also commented on his controversial coming together with Marcus Rashford in the first leg. As the in-form United striker was baring down on goal - with the score then 2-1 to the Red Devils - he went tumbling down inside the penalty area after a challenge from Kounde, who was crucially the last man.
To many's surprise, Italian referee Maurizio Mariani waved play on before VAR deemed it not a clear and obvious error, opting against an of-field review. Mariani and Co.'s decision left United boss Erik ten Hag fuming on the touchline, as the Dutch manager received a yellow card for his fierce protests and later declared that Kounde should "definitely" have been sent off.
Despite Ten Hag and the Red Devils' anger, the Frenchman doesn't believe that he's "lucky" to have escaped a red card. "I think it was 50-50. There is contact but I think it's very light," Kounde claimed. "I think it's very light and the referee decided to not give me a red card, so I don't feel lucky.
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"I feel it's part of the decision of the referee. It's true that I think I could have been sent off because it was 50-50 but the referee made the decision and obviously I'm very happy."
He'll once again be up against Rashford on Thursday and is anticipating another tricky task. "I think he's a very versatile player, he can do a lot of things on the pitch," Kounde, who was part of the Sevilla side who beat United in the Europa League semi-finals three years ago, explained.
"Obviously he's very fast so it makes it very difficult! He's also great at reading space, getting into areas to do defining actions. So it's always challenging to play against this type of player, but very exciting obviously. That's why we play. But it's also a collective. He has a great team and great team-mates around him. So it's our mission to make it difficult for his team-mates to find him."
