26.04.2010 17:44
Piqué looks to Camp Nou factor
Jordi Clos
Gerard Piqué is looking forward to the match against Inter Milan and expects a packed Camp Nou to provide an intimidating arena for Jose Mourinho and his players.
Barca fans around the world have responded to the first leg defeat in Milan with an avalanche of
enthusiasm and an unshakeable belief in the team’s ability to overturn Inter’s two-goal
advantage. The players are well aware of this and, speaking at Monday’s press conference,
Piqué told reporters: “I hope the atmosphere makes the Inter players hate their profession
for 90 minutes. It all helps a great deal. I don’t remember an atmosphere like this. People
are so engaged, excited and confident. I feel really proud”.
“I’m looking forward to the best Camp Nou of all time. I don’t want to see
a single empty seat. However, I don’t want any violence whatsoever. I just mean that the fans
cheer for us, making our opponents feel all alone”.
Three reasons to be confident
Piqué is pretty confident of a good result: “I’m confident
because of all the results we’ve obtained in a year and a half, because of our home record,
and the way we’re playing. We’ll try and be ourselves and play our game. Inter will try
and stop us by trying to prevent us from playing the way we like. But in the Camp Nou, where the
pitch is bigger, it’ll be more difficult to stop us”.
Stay cool and be ambitious
Despite the red-hot atmosphere surrounding the match, Piqué is staying
calm: “We mustn’t get carried away by anxiety. Even if they score, which could happen,
we have to keep on trying. We have to be ambitious and score as many goals as possible. Every
player likes these matches and it’s great to have the opportunity to reach the final of the
Champions League. This is one of the most important matches in the Club’s recent
history”.