Juventus striker Fernando Llorente has conceded that Barcelona are “the best team in the world” ahead of the Champions League final next month.
La Blaugrana will lock horns with the Old Lady at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on June 7, and the former Athletic Bilbao striker admits his side face an uphill battle to be crowned European champions against the form team on the continent.
“It’s the grand finale. It’s been a great season, and hopefully we travel to Berlin in the best possible condition,” he explained in an interview with Marca.
“We know it’ll be very, very difficult because we’re facing the form team of the moment.
“Barca are now, in my opinion, the best team in the world. They’re at a stratospheric level.
“Their front three are from another world. I repeat it’ll be difficult, but we’ll try to play as we usually do.
“It’s clear that Barcelona are favourites, but in football the favourite doesn’t always win.
“The final gives us more options than if it were a [two-legged] knockout tie.
“We must have the perfect match and not fail at anything. When you play against Barca, you can’t give them anything because they can hurt you at any moment.
“[Lionel] Messi is the best in the world, of course, but the two next to him are also of an amazing calibre.
“I feel very well, but [whether I start the final] will be decided by the Coach. [Carlos] Tevez and [Alvaro] Morata are doing well.
“Surely it’ll be difficult for me to start, but I’ll be ready whenever the team need me.
“[Paul Pogba] has an incredible future. He’s a player who can become what he wants. In my opinion, he can become the best in the world.
“Clearly, he’s very young and still has to improve many things, but he already has plenty of qualities to be the best.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about anything other than Juventus. I’m fine here, winning titles and feeling happy.
“I have two more years left on my contract and don’t look to the future.”
