 Levein welcomes Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard to Scotland |
Dundee United boss Craig Levein claims Thursday's friendly against Barcelona is not ideal pre-season preparation, but it was too tempting to turn down. "It gives the players the opportunity to pit their wits against some of the best players in the world," he said.
"They are a great bunch of players who always work very hard but there has been an extra edge this week.
"They all want to start the match and they all want to finish the match so they can swap jerseys!"
Tannadice was sold out within days of the news emerging that the Catalan giants would be coming to Scotland to play against United and then Hearts.
Levein's preparations have been slightly disrupted by the high-profile match but he is keeping one eye on the opening fixture against Aberdeen on 4 August.
"I knew it wasn't going to be a typical pre-season match but how could I give it up?" he added.
"Maybe none of my players will get this opportunity to come up against the players of this calibre ever again.
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"There are things in the game that I will stress that they have to do to help us for a week on Saturday when we play Aberdeen."
United boast a fantastic record against Barcelona, having beaten them on the four occasions they have met.
The Taysiders' first foray into Europe saw them win 2-0 at Tannadice and 2-1 in Barcelona in the 1966 Fairs Cup.
In the 1987 Uefa Cup, United won 1-0 on home soil before coming from a goal behind to win 2-1 in the Nou Camp.
"I don't feel under pressure," insisted Levein.
"If we win it will be five out of five, but if we don't then it will be just a friendly."
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