Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made it clear that his club are looking for a win against Chelsea on Tuesday.
Hansi Flick’s side travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in their fifth Champions League game of the season.
Barcelona were hoping to have Pedri back for the match, but the midfielder is now expected to miss it.
What the big names have said in the past about Chelsea vs Barcelona
“There are players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid. I never thought I would hear myself say that. I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil v Argentina – but this is. We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.”
Lionel Messi
“I thought this could be the worst night of my footballing life, I was thinking towards double figures, I spent the first 20 minutes getting nowhere near Xavi and Iniesta”
Frank Lampard
“I always say this Barcelona team was the best of my generation, one team was capable of matching them in this era and that was us.”
John Terry
Nevertheless, Laporta has warned the Blues that the La Liga champions are aiming for all three points, though he is aware that their opponents are no pushovers.
Chelsea players take team photo ahead of Champions League match against Qarabag
Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Joan Laporta thinks Chelsea have a ‘very balanced team’
Laporta views Chelsea as a “very balanced team” and has also described them as a “very good” outfit. Even so, he wants to see a Barcelona victory on Tuesday night.
Speaking to Barca One, with Mundo Deportivo relaying his comments, Laporta said: “We have to win in London, which isn’t easy, but it’s true that we have a good team.
“I don’t know if we’ll have any more players back. Chelsea are very good, they have a very balanced team, but we have a high level of football and we’re going to do everything we can to try and win.”
Will Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League?
Barcelona may not be as balanced as Chelsea at this particular moment. They have conceded 15 goals in La Liga this season, which is more than what Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis have let in.
Their attack is dangerous, though. Barcelona’s squad boasts Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who are arguably the two best wide men in football today.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta speaking
Photo by Lluis GENE / AFP via Getty Images
Strongest area of Chelsea’s squad
There is a lot to like about Chelsea’s squad, but there is one particular area where they are very strong: midfield.
In Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, the Blues have two of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
When Andrey Santos talked about Caicedo and Fernandez during the last international break, the young Brazilian said as much.
“Of course, my competition is very tough with Enzo and Moi, who are now among the top midfielders in the Premier League, doing a great job,” Santos stated.
The 21-year-old is not a bad midfielder himself, while Chelsea also have Romeo Lavia. They just need to find a way to keep the former Southampton man fit.
When you consider all of that, midfield is probably the strongest area of Chelsea’s squad. On Tuesday, there could be a really exciting battle in the middle of the pitch.