Leo pumped up to prove a point
LIONEL MESSI has been spending extra sessions in the gym and is determined to improve his wretched record against Chelsea tonight.
The Argentine legend has not scored in eight meetings with Chelsea between 2006 and 2012 and even missed a penalty in the 2012 semi-final defeat by the Stamford Bridge side, so has a point to prove in tonight’s last-16 first leg.
But Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic said: “Leo works very hard. He’s been in the gym a lot, looking after himself. We train hard every day giving 100 per cent and we need him.”
Barca coach Ernesto Valverde warned his team that the Blues, despite having an up and down season, have the capability to hurt his side, who have lost just one game in their last 38.
Under Luis Enrique, Barcelona crashed in the quarterfinals to Juventus last season.
Valverde, who took over in the summer, said: “Chelsea have a lot of power and can cause us a lot of damage.
“My players have learnt their lessons from last season and will look to rectify things this time.
“English teams this year are in incredible form. Chelsea may not have had the best season so far but they’re still so strong.” IF ANYONE has an insight into the mindset of Barcelona, the way they play, the philosophy of the club, their culture, it is Pedro Rodriguez.
The Chelsea forward spent 10 years at the Nou Camp alongside legends such as Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, he grew up playing the Barca way and he learned his trade at the Catalan club.
As Chelsea tonight prepare for the formidable task of taking on a Barca side, who on Saturday made it a record-equalling 31 La Liga games without defeat and lead the table by seven points, Pedro said it is them who are still haunted by memories of previous failures against his current club. He believes it is not impossible to tame Barcelona – and that they should not be feared – and is glad he is now part of a Chelsea team which were always “horrible” opponents. Pedro was on Barcelona’s bench in the classic Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea at the Nou Camp in April 2012. Roberto Di Matteo’s team, a goal up from the first leg, went a man down after John Terry’s sending off, but ground out a famous backs to the wall 2-2 draw from two goals down with a heroic defensive display, to make it to the final, where they beat Bayern Munich. Pedro, 30, who scored 99 goals in REPORTS 321 games for Barcelona and will be facing his old club for the first time since leaving, believes Barca are still scarred by that traumatic tie, where they had 72 per cent of possession but could not win.
“Chelsea were always horrible opponents,” said Pedro, who moved to Stamford Bridge in 2015 in a £19million deal. “They were difficult – compact, strong in defence, pressed very well. We always found it difficult against them.
“It was frustrating that night. The memory stays with me even now. We controlled the game and scored the first goal, but then Messi missed a penalty and Fernando Torres scored with the last touch.
“The Barcelona players will be thinking this tie is going to be very tough, because Chelsea are strong, never easy to play against.”
Amazingly, Messi has never scored against Chelsea in eight meetings between 2006 and 2012. Can they stop him again?