LASK Linz manager Valérien Ismaël has warned Manchester United they will not ‘freeze’ when the two sides meet in the Europa League.
The two sides were drawn together in the Europa League last 16 draw last week after United progressed past Club Brugge and LASK pulled off a shock win over AZ Alkmaar.
The two sides will meet for the first leg of that two-legged clash on Thursday, win United drawn away from home.
Manchester United are expected to easily progress past the Austrian side, despite the fact LASK sit top of the table in the Austrian Bundesliga and six points clear of Red Bull Salzburg.
Indeed, the draw has been met with derision in some corners, with Gary Lineker even joking about it on Twitter.
Ismaël, though, is in no laughing mood and insists neither he nor his team will be there to take photos with Manchester United’s star players.
“I see it soberly, LASK has so far been little known at the international level,” he told Sport1.
“It is, of course, surprising to many that there is an Austrian club in the round of 16 that is not called Salzburg.
“Only those who have followed our path will not underestimate us. Sure: Manchester United are the favourites, it’s like a duel between David and Goliath.
“But this is our chance again. The fact is: we will not freeze in awe of ManUnited and only take photos for our album.
“We will prepare well and do our aggressive pressing. We do that, regardless of whether the opponent is Vöcklamarkt or Manchester.”
