FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.12.2007 14:34

Eusebio: “We have recent details of what to expect”

Anna Segura

Eusebio was positive about the prospect of playing Celtic in the opening round of the knockout stages of the Champions league. “We know the Scottish game” he said, although he is aware that the away leg in particular is not going to be easy.

After watching the draw for the Champions league knockout stages, Eusebio Sacristán spoke to Barça TV’s ‘Zona Mixta’ programme. The member of the club’s coaching staff said “We have recent details of what to expect.” The last time the two sides met was in the 2004/05 season, while Barça already have the experience of facing one of Scotland’s two giants this season, when they crossed paths with Rangers during the group stages.

A well known style

Eusebio described the draw by saying “we know them. We know what their way of playing is like and we also know all about Scottish football.” Txiki Begiristain, who was in Nyon, agreed that Barça already know a lot about Celtic’s football and their stadium. “They are a team against which we have to make sure we are serious, because they are anything but an easy opponent”.

Away leg the danger

Both Txiki Begiristain and Eusebio agreed that the game in Scotland is the one they really need to be worried about. The assistant coach said “their ground inspires them, and that’s a factor in their favour. So we will have to be ready to deal with the pressure”. Begiristain added that “in an atmosphere like that we have to make sure we keep our concentration”.

Hard but winnable

But the fact that Barça are relatively familiar with the opposition and will play the return leg at home means there is plenty of reason to feel optimistic about the challenge, although Eusebio is concerned that the players might feel overconfident. “If we are 100% concentrated and 100% focused, we will show them who the better side is” he said, while Txiki Begiristain is confident that the return leg will be the key and that “we just have to make sure we get a positive result from the first leg”.