Manchester United goalkeeper coach Emilio Sanchez admits David de Gea underwent specialist 'Lionel Messi training' before their defeat at Barcelona.

De Gea didn't help his side when he let a tame Messi strike slip through his hands inside 20 minutes.

But it has now emerged the Spaniard had actually prepared especially for the Argentinian before the clash.

"We do some things different," Sanchez told Cadena Ser.

"I wouldn't lie if I said we do a super special preparation. I already worked in La Liga for many seasons with David [De Gea] as well and before with other keepers.

"I can't deny that there is a particularity regarding Leo [Messi] in which in the end, you try to offer tools and data to the keeper so that it can help him.

"But we all know that no matter how much you study Leo, or if you have the tools and those are good, talent is always above anything else.

"I do work that is more specific with De Gea which I obviously can't reveal, but we do some things different and we include other things than with respect to another game as we are facing Leo."