Lionel Messi always gets us out of trouble, says Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde

Messi scores twice in five minutes after Rashford had earlier hit the crossbar before a stunning Coutinho strike earned Catalans a 3-0 victory at Camp Nou

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford struck the crossbar with an early effort against Barcelona. Reuters

Manchester United's Paul Pogba. Reuters

Barcelona's Lionel Messi shoots at goal. Reuters

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Manchester United. Reuters

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi reacts after opening the scoring. EPA

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his second goal. Reuters

Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho scores their third goal. Reuters

Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring his team's third goal. AFP

Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea reacts after Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho scores. AFP

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Barcelona's Lionel Messi after the match. Reuters

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde praised Lionel Messi for settling his side down after a nervy start against Manchester United and inspiring the Catalans to a 3-0 victory to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Marcus Rashford struck the crossbar for the visitors in the second minute at Camp Nou but Messi scored twice in the space of five minutes later in the first half to put Barca at ease.

Philippe Coutinho's stunning strike completed a dominant 4-0 aggregate victory.

"Messi always gets us out of trouble and we're not going to apologise for having him," Valverde told a news conference.

"Leo always turns up in the important games, not just in the big moments but throughout the whole game. He is always capable of scoring but he also drives the team's attack."

Valverde said his side were relieved to finally hurdle the quarter-final barrier after three successive exits in the last eight, particularly after last season's 3-0 second-leg defeat to Roma after winning the first leg 4-1.

"We had a lot of hope for this tie, it was a long time since we have been in the semi-finals and we had a very painful defeat last year," he said.

"You never know what can happen in football, they have a very good team and they could have caused us problems, so we made sure we were focused and played with intensity so we would make it through."

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer meanwhile backed Barca to conquer the continent again.

"With the quality they've got, the front three they've got, and players they can bring on like Dembele and Malcom, I wouldn't bet against them," Solskjaer said.

"They would be favourites to win the whole tournament."

He added Messi's majestic display underlined why is he regarded as the best player in the world alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

"He's an exceptional talent, him and Cristiano have been the best players in the world the last decade and he showed why we think that and why this team have won the Champions League so many times," added the Norwegian.

"If you give him space and time around the goal he'll create and score goals. Whenever he gets the ball around the box he will be decisive and unfortunately for us he was the winner for them."