Source: Northern_Echo
Zenden: 'Barca are not unbeatable'
HAVING spent three successful seasons at Barcelona, Sunderland midfielder Bolo Zenden was delighted to see his former club reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night, writes Scott Wilson.[LNB] But while Arsenal were no match for the Spanish champions in the Nou Camp, Zenden does not believe Barcelona are unbeatable.[LNB] "I watched it and enjoyed it," said the Dutchman. "Obviously because I played there, I know the philosophy there and the whole atmosphere around it. I did enjoy it.[LNB] "Maybe if you're an English fan or an Arsenal fan, you might complain about the two yellow cards. It upset the game and after that it was one way traffic. To be fair, though, it was one way before then.[LNB] "I was upset Arsenal didn't play their own game. They were frightened to play their game, maybe. They got lots of men behind the ball and defended - and then when they got the ball they gave it away too easily. It was not like an Arsenal side."[LNB] Zenden does not, however, believe that Barcelona are certainties to win the Champions League. The 34-year-old was part of a Liverpool side that secured a 2-1 away win over a Barcelona team including Lionel Messi in February 2007, and feels other clubs could learn from their approach in that game.[LNB] "I think you may as well press them and play them up high," he said. "If you do that, they'll try and play out of it - they won't launch it.[LNB] "We did that when we played against Barcelona when I was at Liverpool. Maybe they've come to a different level since then, but we had a good game and beat them.[LNB] "Messi was playing and we put (Alvaro) Arbeloa, a left footer, on the right, so they cancelled each other out.[LNB] "Now, Messi plays anywhere he wants and dribbles anywhere he wants - it has changed. But the point is that maybe in the next game someone comes up with a game plan and beats Barcelona."[LNB]
