Zubizarreta: “A different game to the one in the groups”

Andoni Zubizarreta has said that Wednesday will be “a difficult match against a strong opponent” but that Barça are ready to compete with the Italians for a place in the semi finals.

Zubi: “The two group matches allowed us to get to know each other a little better but we also know that a knockout match is played differently”.

“We have more important players missing than they do, but great teams are used to playing under any circumstances”.

Andoni Zubizarreta was speaking to the media before departing for Italy. “We know what we have to do to get to the final. It’s a great game against a great opponent. It’s one of the best games in the quarter finals. It will be a difficult match against a team we already know”, said the director of football. Of course, the sides already met earlier in the competition. “Both games in the group stages will help us get to know each other a bit better, but we also know that knockout matches are played differently” he said.

Asked about the key players that AC Milan are missing, Zubi commented that “I’m sure our missing players are more important than the ones they have. But great teams are used to playing under any circumstances … The greatest teams are made up of great players. It’s true that the such players tend to appear in big matches because they thrive on such pressure. Ibrahimovic is one of them, and he’s an important part of AC Milan”.

Zubizarreta and the team are not only ready to fight with Milan for a place in the semi finals of the Champions League, and also for three points in all their remaining league fixtures. “That’s our intention. We’ll see whether we end up winning the league or not” he concluded. (via FCBarcelona.com)