Bosingwa vows to shut out Messi as Chelsea brace for Barca onslaught

28 April 2009 07:52
Jose Bosingwa insists he is ready to thwart Barcelona star Lionel Messi.[LNB]With Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole suspended, Bosingwa will switch flanks tonight in a bid to cut out the threat of the Argentina ace.[LNB]The Blues square up to Barca at the Nou Camp in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.[LNB] Prepared: Jose Bosingwa (right) in training yesterday[LNB]Boss Guus Hiddink has opted to switch Bosingwa from his favoured right-back slot to stop Messi, who is regarded as arguably the world's best player.[LNB]And the Portugal international, who played in the role for an hour at West Ham on Saturday, insists he is not scared of the task.[LNB]'I'm prepared for the challenge,' he said. 'It is no problem marking Messi.[LNB]'Messi is a big star worldwide but it is possible to stop him with patience and calm. You need to keep him under pressure.[LNB] Threat: Lionel Messi will lead Barcelona's attack at the Nou Camp [LNB]'I have experience playing with Porto and Portugal against big players, and now with Chelsea. I do not fear the Argentine.'[LNB]Chelsea team-mate Florent Malouda, who is likely to operate on the left wing, has back Bosingwa to shut out Messi in Spain.[LNB]'Since he has been back from injury, we have been working together a lot in training,' he said. [LNB]'But not only in training, we have also spoken a lot and I think we will speak a lot more before the game. And not only speaking with Jose, with all the team because it is going to be team work. [LNB]'Everybody is focused on Jose because he is supposed to play on Messi's side but everybody in the team helps everybody so he needs us and we will need him.'[LNB] Hiddink calls for courage: 'We must put the brakes on the best team in the world'Chelsea dream of a small miracle... but Barca already have one in MessiChelsea and Spurs wait in the wings as Barca offer £30m Eto'o to Man CityMARTIN SAMUEL: No moans...foreign influence in English game IS a passport to successCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail