FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.04.2009 19:29

Laporta: “We have a team to get through the tie”

Anna Segura

Joan Laporta was upbeat ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter final 1st leg against Bayern, insisting that the team were “up for the game”, whilst warning they were facing opponents “with players who can turn a game on their own".

The President was speaking at the launch of the song Barça, estic boig per tu’, at the start of a busy week of European action.

No favourites on the night

Joan Laporta believes Bayern de Munich are “a very good team, run by very serious people. They have players who can turn a game on their own.” Although he reckons there’s no favourite to get through to the semi-finals, the President accepted: “we have a team capable of getting through the tie and the players are really up for it”. Asked what result he was looking for on Wednesday, Sr Laporta replied: “a win – that will relax us for the second leg”.

“Prudence and humility”

Despite his upbeat attitude, President Laporta insisted on the need for “prudence and humility” and more than anything “maximum respect for our opponents. There is a lot of expectation surrounding the team”, but bearing in mind the experience of previous campaigns, “we would make a mistake if we let our euphoria take over”.

Convinced of a full house

Finally, the President insisted on the importance of a full house on Wednesday, despite the game being played in Catalonia’s Easter Week, commenting: “I’m convinced the ground will be full. The fans have shown this season that they are with the team and I’m sure we’ll fill the ground for this game”.