To qualify for the quarter finals Barça have to overturn the first leg result. Sergio Busquets pointed out the importance of "staying calm and being ourselves. 90 minutes is a long time and we shouldn’t get nervous".
"Last year’s game means nothing"
Just less than a year ago, Barca thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in the quarterfinals. Sergio Busquets,
however, warns that the game this season has nothing to do with that one: "The game last year has
no bearing because the situation now is different. Arsenal can count on players that weren’t
here last year, like Cesc, and now come with a one goal lead. For us it’s really important
that history repeats itself, although we know that we’ll have to sweat blood to reach the
quarterfinals”.
The Champions League returns to the Camp Nou after three months, and does so with the main course,
Barcelona v Arsenal. The 2-1 defeat in the first leg means that Barça have to overturn the adverse
result if they want to be in the draw for the quarterfinals of the competition. Sergio Busquets,
although aware of how difficult that will be, is certain that "if we play our football, we have a
good chance of qualifying. We have to set out our stall from the kick-off, but we must stay calm
and try to be patient. We have to win but we don’t need to rush as a 1-0 win will qualify
us".
"I volunteered to play as a central defender"
The absences of Puyol and Pique have forced Guardiola into looking for
the best options to cover the centre of the defence against Arsenal. One of the better options
could be Sergio Busquets, who has played there already this season. "They are important players
missing but last year we won without them. I have offered to play there as, wherever I play, I feel
pretty good, but other teammates can also play there" Busquets said.
"The team is in good shape"
The 12 out of 12 points gained in the league between the first leg of the last 16
and tomorrow’s return leg, means that Barça go into the match with morale pretty high. "The
team is in good shape. We can’t wait for the match to start. It’s the most important
game of the season but hopefully there’ll be more. We have to make use of our home advantage.
I’m convinced that the fans will help us qualify".
Arsenal: experience and youth
Referring to Wenger's team, Sergio Busquets warned about the enormous
danger that Arsenal bring to the game: "It's a team that has a lot of young players, of high
quality, but they also have lots of experience. For a long time Arsenal have always been in the
final stages of major competitions and are second in the Premiership. They play some very good
football and always want the ball".