Barcelona will go into their Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich in ‘unapologetic’ mood, Andres Iniesta has promised.
Barca are preparing to come up against the Germans in the final four of the European competition, with the prospect of a Clasico final against Real Madrid still open.
Asked for a message of reassurance to Barca fans nervous at this possibility, in light of defeats to Los Blancos in League and Cup this year, Iniesta obliged, before highlighting that Bayern remain the focus.
“Man, if I were a fan I would not be so nervous, whilst with the adrenaline it should stop,” the midfielder told Mundo Deportivo as part of an interview released today.
“A final should be exciting, it should be looked at as it is, it is something big to get to play it and there is nothing so nice as to win another title.
“Today, however, I do not think about that, just of the semi-finals, which will be very difficult.
“Are Barca not favourites in the semis? The truth is that Bayern have spent years doing things well, they have won the League with much anticipation and ease, they are in the Cup final, they have a great team and Bayern are a historic club, a football myth that has reached the semi-final.
“It will be as difficult for us as it will be for them.
“Do we face them with fear? No, unapologetically, full of confidence and trusting that if we do things as we should then we will be in the final, we have our chances.”
Iniesta reflected on Bayern’s strengths.
“They are an organised block but they also like to have the ball and they have extraordinary players. I could not point out what aspect of their game is most powerful.
“And then, during the game, other factors and circumstances can change any script. What I do know is that it will be as difficult for us as it will be for them.
“Messi to play the 180 minutes? Sure that’s good news. Now the other day against PSG he made the effort to try and help the team and that says a lot about him.”
The midfielder was taken to task on the differing levels of performance shown by La Blaugrana in the second legs of the Last 16 tie against Milan compared with the quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
“You have to put it into context. They are two completely different situations – in one we came from a very bad performance, the game was life or death and against PSG the result was favourable and we did not know whether to play in one way or another.
“I prefer that the team is through, has suffered but has played, has always done their best and we are in the semi-finals for the sixth time in a row, which is something unique.”
