Calling the Champions League tie between Manchester City and Barcelona one that would have been fit for the finals, Gerardo Martino has set the stage for one of the biggest Champions League tie in the Round of 16.
Visiting City on Tuesday, Barcelona will face a Manchester City that have been relentless playing at home. One of the most mouth-watering encounters in the Champions League so far, the tie will prove to be a tough test for the Spanish champions who have clearly been going through a turbulent past few months.
ai???Yes, it could have been a final. It would be ideal if we met City later, maybe in the last eight. The two teams are very good, doing very well in the league and the cups, and it is the perfect timing for them to arrive into this game.ai???
But it seems Barcelona have found a knack of finding their momentum going just when it matters the most. With Messi back at his blistering best and the addition of Neymar in the squad, Barcelona are serious contenders for the title along with City this season.
Talking before the game, Martino admitted that Aguero missing the first leg is a ai???sorryai??i?? incident but for the manager it definitely means having ai???one less problemai??i?? to deal with on Tuesday. Aguero has been on a brilliant form but has struggled to remain fit and hence will be unavailable for Pellegrini for the first leg. But refusing to dismiss City as a ai???newbieai??i??, Martino admitted that Barcelona will have to be at their best to come back from Manchester with a successful result. “Manchester City are one of the greatest teams in the world right now.”
Manchester Cityai??i??s fast-paced approach to the game will come in severe contrast against a Barcelona side that likes to keep possession and control the game. Martino admitted that though City are more ai???directai??i?? in their approach, the side who doesnai??i??t control the ball will ai???sufferai??i??.
ai???City have a very similar style to us, maybe a bit more direct, but they are very good at possession of the ball. I think the team with less possession of the ball will suffer the most.ai???
ai???For the last six seasons, Barcelona has made it to the semi-finals and the fans are used to it. So it will be difficult to understand if we donai??i??t go through, but this is the tightest tie of all.ai???
Taking questions on Neymar and whether the Brazillian will be available for the fixture tomorrow after having recently made his comeback, Martino said that a ai???callai??i?? on Neymar will only be taken tomorrow depending on his fitness. It will be interesting to see if Martino does decide to play Neymar however the manager could be taking a big gamble in his bid to win a crucial away fixture.
When suggested that City are ai???mini-Barcelonaai??i?? in the Press conference, Barcelona manager refused to play down Pellegriniai??i??s side in the upcoming clash. “They are not a mini anything. They are one of the greatest teams in the world.”
“If I had to choose one (between City and United), it would be United. But I am really happy in Barcelona. It is the club of my life and I am not looking to leave. But I always say United is my second team after Barcelona.ai???
“I would like to have played more at United, but it was a very important three years and I learned a lot.”
Talking about Barcelonaai??i??s clash with City, Pique played down Barcelonaai??i??s chances going into the tie, calling both the teams to be evenly matched before the game.
“We are top of the league, they lost against but Chelsea but beat them in the cup. At the moment we are level.”
Though Barcelona have managed to claw back to the top of the Spanish La Liga, separated only by goal-difference, the Catalans are not as feared as they once were a couple of seasons ago. Pique admitted that Barcelona have not continued their European dominance and hence are not as feared as they once were.
ai???Maybe teams don’t fear as much because in the last two years we didn’t win the Champions League. But they still respect us. We are a team with a lot of players who have won the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League and La Liga.
“I think we can still be the best, but we have to show to the world that we can do it. The team is doing well at the moment.Ai??We are top of the league, we have a lot of possession, we’re scoring goals and playing well overall.Ai??This is a great opportunity for the team to show we have great players and can win here.”
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