FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.10.2007 20:26

Iniesta: “It is an important game”

Vanessa Forns

Andrés Iniesta has highlighted the importance of Tuesday’s game with Rangers, in which a win for Barça would see them almost through to the next round of the Champions League. “It’s a key game”, he said.

Iniesta believes a win for Frank Rijkaard’s side at Ibrox tonight “would be a major step towards being in the next round of the competition”. He added that “right now both sides have six points” so this game will be important in deciding the outcome of the group.

Important to concentrate

Iniesta, convinced that Rangers “will fight as hard as they can” has said that Tuesday’s match “will be intense and difficult” and is aware of just how much Rangers are likely to keep it tight from start to finish. He agrees that Barcelona are, on paper, the favourites, but that anything could happen out there on the pitch. So it is important for Barça to maintain their full concentration. “If we don’t play intensely we’ll have a bad time of it” he said. “We have to make a difference with certain things. We have to try to play our game and play a good game.”

Possible chance for Gudjohnsen

With the midfield struggling with injuries, Gudjohnsen may get a chance tonight and Iniesta is aware that “it is not a new position for him. He played there for Chelsea and is one the options we have right now. Unfortunately, we don’t have many players in that position.” He added that Gudjohnsen “is a player that knows how to hold the ball up and can bolster the team’s strength in the air.”

If Gudjohnsen does come in, Iniesta may play in a more central playmaking role while Xavi moves out wide. “We can’t discuss these possibilities because it all depends on the manager’s decisions” said Iniesta, who concluded by describing the blight of injuries being suffered by the team as “a shame for the players that suffer them but no reason for us to feel afraid when we go out onto the pitch.”