Bruno Fernandes has told his Manchester United team-mates to be wary of LASK after Sporting Lisbon played the Austrian side earlier this season.
Sporting lost the away fixture in Austria in the Europa League and finished second to LASK in their group.
Fernandes will line up for United against LASK on Thursday in the first leg of the last-16 tie and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explained the playmaker had already spoken to his team-mates about the strengths of their opponents.
‘To be fair, when we got the draw, it was useful that Bruno was there,’ Solskjaer told the club website.
‘He said it’s going to be a very tough game. They lost against them but won 2-1 at home.
‘They lost away from home but obviously he mentioned he didn’t play in that one.
‘He said it will be a hard game for us and the players must be ready.’
Fernandes scored against LASK in the group stages, but was absent when Sporting were beaten 3-0 in Austria.
United will have to play LASK behind closed doors after the Austrian government banned sporting events amid a worsening coronavirus crisis.
Linzer Stadium usually houses 21,000 fans, but Solskjaer does not think a lack of atmosphere will affect his players.
‘We just have to handle it and create our own atmosphere and make sure we don’t get distracted by that,’ he said.
‘It’s always miles better to play with fans. It’s how football should be played.’
‘They’ve played in games on the training ground behind closed doors, when we invite different teams,’ the United boss continued.
‘We’ll make sure we’re ready and have the team spirit and atmosphere within the team, knowing it’s a very important game for us, and focus on playing football.’
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