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Barcelona president Sandro Rosell after Bayer Leverkusen match-up: We were ready for any Champions League challenge
The current holders have been drawn to face the German side in the last 16 of the competition but the Camp Nou chief insists the Blaugrana were prepared to meet any team
Dec 16, 2011 2:40:00 PM
By Jonathan Birchall
Sandro Rosell - Barcelona
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell insists that Pep Guardiola's men were prepared to face any side in the Champions League last 16 after the European champions were drawn with Bayer Leverkusen in Nyon.
The competition holders are looking to become the first side in the Champions League era to retain their crown and their passage to the final in Munich begins with another trip to Germany in February.
"Bayer Leverkusen is okay," Rosell told reporters in Nyon.
"Whoever you get, they all have their pros and their cons. We've got Bayer, so perfect. For any option, like with anything in life, you can look at the good and the bad. I imagine everything will be ready for us to approach it."
And Rosell admitted Barca would not have relished facing either of the two Russian sides, CSKA Moscow or Zenit St Petersburg, due to the long trip and cold conditions in February.
"The Russians, due to the time on the plane and having to travel the day before, plus the cold, we preferred not to have to face them," he explained.
"But the positive side would have been that they are in pre-season.
Meanwhile, sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says the last-16 match-up with Leverkusen is a 'special tie', but warned the Catalans they face a difficult challenge.
"Leverkusen are very tough," he told reporters.
"I like German football, I always have. They are grounds where you see a lot of passion, emotion, young people - and I think it's an excellent place.
"They [German teams] don't ever give in, get scared or let themselves be intimidated. I think it's a special tie."
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The competition holders are looking to become the first side in the Champions League era to retain their crown and their passage to the final in Munich begins with another trip to Germany in February.
"Bayer Leverkusen is okay," Rosell told reporters in Nyon.
"Whoever you get, they all have their pros and their cons. We've got Bayer, so perfect. For any option, like with anything in life, you can look at the good and the bad. I imagine everything will be ready for us to approach it."
And Rosell admitted Barca would not have relished facing either of the two Russian sides, CSKA Moscow or Zenit St Petersburg, due to the long trip and cold conditions in February.
"The Russians, due to the time on the plane and having to travel the day before, plus the cold, we preferred not to have to face them," he explained.
"But the positive side would have been that they are in pre-season.
Meanwhile, sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says the last-16 match-up with Leverkusen is a 'special tie', but warned the Catalans they face a difficult challenge.
"Leverkusen are very tough," he told reporters.
"I like German football, I always have. They are grounds where you see a lot of passion, emotion, young people - and I think it's an excellent place.
"They [German teams] don't ever give in, get scared or let themselves be intimidated. I think it's a special tie."
Starting last month and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. Ahead of Sunday's Club World Club final with Santos, check out this week's exciting extract on how Lionel Messi helped the Catalans claim this trophy for the very first time in their history in 2009. Don't miss it!
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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