体坛英语新闻:Valverde warns of Chelsea threat ahead of Champions League return leg
MADRID, March 13 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde warned on Tuesday that his side will have to dig deep if they are to assure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League when they take on Chelsea in the Camp Nou Stadium on Wednesday night.
A 1-1 draw from the first leg makes Barca slight favorites to qualify, but Valverde reminded journalists present in his pre-game press conference that Barca had suffered for much of the first leg before Leo Messi scored the vital away goal.
"I expect our rival to be at a similar level to the first leg, with their virtues and the danger that they have. I am not sure if they will press further forward or wait deeper, but they can score at any moment," he said.
Valverde admitted that a "0-0 will see us through," but added "I can't see things staying that way until the end.
"There is no magic formula to going through except to be better than they are," he commented, warning that Chelsea are the "best team in the Premier League on the counter-attack," and that Brazilian striker Willian, who scored for Chelsea in Stamford Bridge and also hit the post twice in the game, "has been in great form recently and scoring goals with ease."
The Barca boss was asked about Andres Iniesta, who is struggling to recover form a hamstring injury he suffered 10 days ago. Valverde said Iniesta had "got through most of the training session with no problems, we will see how he is and we will decide."
However, he added that "when a game like this comes along and there is no way back if you lose, the player has to take a risk, what we have to decide is whether or not the risk is too great."
相关文章
- 体坛英语新闻:Chelsea, Leicester draw, Everton-Man City postponed due to COVID-19
- 体坛英语新闻:CBA roundup: Shanghai snaps Guangdong's 9-game winning streak, Fujian smashes Nanjing
- 体坛英语新闻:Messi grateful for Ballon d'Or Dream Team spot
- 体坛英语新闻:New York nurse receives COVID-19 vaccine, kicking off state inoculation
- 体坛英语新闻:Flick's lucky hand: Paris pupil Coman securing Bayern's glory
- 体坛英语新闻:Thiago Alcantara says Bayern did "terrific job" to win Champions
- 体坛英语新闻:Champions League newcomers Rennes start Ligue 1 campaign with draw at Lille
- 体坛英语新闻:All French semifinal after PSG beat Arsenal and Lyon defeat Bayern Munich in Women's Champio
- 体坛英语新闻:Tough PSG beat Arsenal to book semi-final against Olympique Lyon in Women's Champions League
- 体坛英语新闻:Colombia playmaker Quintero poised for Shenzhen FC move