Puyol predicts Barça revival
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Article summary
FC Barcelona may have to "produce the perfect game" to overturn Liverpool FC's 2-1 advantage, but Carles Puyol is "confident of putting on a show" at Anfield.
Article body
Carles Puyol has urged his FC Barcelona team-mates to "produce the perfect game" to overturn Liverpool FC's 2-1 first-leg lead and send last season's winners into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
'Huge desire'
The Barcelona captain says the defending champions are wary of Liverpool's strengths but he feels the hunger of his side will prove a telling factor at Anfield on Tuesday. "We're keen for the match to get under way and we've got huge desire to carry on in the competition," said Puyol. "We know it's going to be a very tough game against an excellent side. Liverpool have got a very strong defence and are dangerous on the counterattack, but we are confident of putting on a good show."
Keeping concentration
Puyol believes it will take a "complete performance" to see Barcelona through, and he acknowledges that the burden is on the visitors to score first. "It's true we have got to attack and the earlier we can get a goal the better it will be for us, but we can't just go gung-ho and forget about our defence," said the Spanish international. "We've got to produce the perfect game in every way and remain patient, keeping our concentration. We've got a team full of dangerous forwards that can hopefully do some damage at their end of the field."
Anfield atmosphere
The 28-year-old defender insists he is not intimidated by the prospect of facing the cauldron of noise that awaits his side at Anfield, as he embraces the challenge on offer. "For me personally, a situation like this always motivates me," said Puyol. "When you are playing in front of such an inspirational crowd it's going to give some kind of strength to the home team, but we are used to playing big games in big stadiums. We are very focused and motivated. I can assure you that we will fight to the death to get the right result."
'Difficult positon'
Barcelona have started recent matches against Real Zaragoza and Sevilla FC with an attacking 3-4-3 formation, yet Puyol claims he does not have any preference as the Catalan club have players capable of adapting to changing circumstances. "We're comfortable with whichever system the coach decides to play, and we're full of hope about turning around the tie from the difficult position we find ourselves in after the first match," he said.
