FCBARCELONA.CAT

18.12.2009 13:41

Txiki warns about overconfidence

David Saura

Txiki Begiristain was pleased with the Champions league draw, but is aware that Stuttgart are unpredictable, and of the dangers of being too confident.

After learning his team will meet the Germans, the FC Barcelona technical secretary said “considering the teams in the draw, we mustn’t grumble. We’re happy.” Nevertheless, Stuttgart had an up and down journey through their Champions League group, and “that makes them dangerous”.

Txiki Begiristain knows how important it is to play the return leg at home, but doesn’t want anyone to be lulled into a false sense of security due to the apparent void between Barça and Stuttgart: “We are confident we can beat them, but we should not start making exaggerated forecasts or getting overconfident”.

A chance for Hleb

The game also means a reencounter with Belorussian Alexander Hleb. “This will be a great chance to see how he’s coming on and the kind of form he’s showing”. It will also be a “mental and psychological” challenge for the man on loan from Barça to Stuttgart. “It will be a great chance for him to show us he is good enough for Barça”.

Perrín: “We’re looking forward to it”

Institutional vice president, Albert Perrín, who also went to the draw in Nyon (Switzerland), was also happy with the team FCB will meet next. “We’re looking forward to it” he said. “We have to respect our opponent. Really, you never know whether these games are going to be easy or difficult until you play them”.

Albert was also glad to se the draw throw up matches like Inter v Chelsea and Milan v Manchester United: “That’s positive, because it means two strong teams will begetting knocked out of the competition in the second round”.