FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.03.2009 14:53

Eto’o: “Barça won’t play for a draw”

Berta Brau

The Cameroonian has said today that the players “will go out to win the game”. Eto’o admits that they are feeling confident, despite Lyon being a very dangerous side that they have a lot of respect for.

Speaking on his 28th birthday, Samuel Eto’o was in the Camp Nou press room for the pre-match Champions League conferences. He is convinced that the first leg result will have no bearing on the way they play, because “Barça never play for a draw”.

First leg is history

Eto’o knows Barça never try to manage scorelines. “We go into games to win them. We have to forget about the first leg”. The striker knows that the one trap they should not fall in is “to go out and defend the first leg result … But that won’t happen, because this club always goes out to win and that’s even more so in front of our own fans”.

“We have a certain advantage”

Eto’o didn’t want to claim Barça are favourites. He preferred to say that “Lyon had a great game at Gerland, but we got a result (1-1). At the moment we have a certain advantage. We’re confident and we are playing at home. He also said that the team “is prepared to go out and look for a good result” without forgetting “the difficulty of the opponent”, for his colleagues have nothing but respect for Lyon.

Team the main concern

What is the biggest danger about Olympique Lyon? Eto’o says “I’m worried about the whole team. It’s true that Benzema’s work has been outstanding of late, but in the first leg we saw what the other players are capable of, like Juninho, Toulalan and Makoun with their ability to get the ball to the forwards”.

Eto’o and Boumsong like brothers

The Cameroonian also spoke about Jean Alain Boumsong, the Lyon centre back, who is a close friend of his. “We all know how that footballer plays, but I don’t really consider it a duel. If he has overcome his injury concerns, then he’ll do all he can to defend his team’s colours. If I play, I try to support all my team mates to win games. It will be like to brothers meeting on the pitch. Once the game is over, it will all stay the same”.

Importance of Andrés Iniesta

Samuel Eto’o is aware of the impact Andrés Iniesta’s return has had. “We are stronger with him and that allows us more possession. We saw that from the game he had on Saturday (against Athletic), and we hope he can have another game like that. I’m not Pep, but I hope he plays”.

Other games

There are four games being played on Tuesday night, including Real Madrid against Liverpool and Vila-real against Panathinaikos. Eto’o said on those that “what I want is for the Spanish League teams to get as far as possible in this competition. I don’t hope Real Madrid lose, but what I do want is for the team that finally lifts the cup to be Barça”.