Chelsea v Barcelona: Gerard Pique revels in battle

05 May 2009 08:10
Barca have scored almost 150 goals in all competitions this season and Saturday's 6-2 mauling of title rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu was the 10th time that Pep Guardiola's side have netted five or more goals in a single match this term. However, on Wednesday they will come up against a Chelsea side who are one of only two teams to have kept Barca goalless since August, the other being Espanyol in the Copa del Rey when coach Guardiola rested many of his star players. Chelsea's clean sheet in last week's semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp was no freak occurrence either, as the Blues currently have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, just as they have had in three of the last four campaigns. It therefore promises to be an enthralling clash between a freescoring Barca side and a miserly Chelsea outfit, but Pique believes his side have what it takes to get through. "The team has the capacity to win there. This team can win at any ground. I'm sure that we are going to get through," said Pique, who nevertheless also conceded it would be "very tough" at Stamford Bridge. "If they want to get through to the final they have to score, and that suggests they will be more open. Stamford Bridge is a smaller ground and it will make it more complicated for our style of play. "As well as that, the fans there are right on top of you and I'm sure there will be an intense atmosphere." Barca will go into the game with confidence sky-high following their remarkable demolition of arch rivals Madrid at the weekend. That was the first time Madrid had conceded six times in a home game in almost 60 years and it also saw Barca reach the 100-goal mark in the league this season, with Pique netting the milestone goal late on. More importantly though, the victory allowed treble-chasing Barca to move seven points clear of second-placed Madrid with only four games remaining in the Primera Division season. Delighted though he is with that historic win over Madrid however, Pique wants to now look forward and not back. "The victory against Madrid is already history and will be remembered much better if we are able to reach the (Champions League) final in Rome. We must talk about the Champions League, please," the former Manchester United man said tonight. "What's coming up is very important and we have to have our heads focused on that. "It's true that we have been playing at a very high level this season, but we still haven't won anything. "We have to continue being cautious. The win against Madrid was very good but it will not make us beat Chelsea. If we want to win in London we will have to have to be fully concentrated on that match."

Source: Telegraph