Lionel Messi expects
Barcelona to reach the Champions League Final despite the home draw
with Chelsea in the semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp last
Tuesday.
The Argentine striker claims the
game will open up in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday
and play right into the hands of the Spanish giants.
Messi, like the vast majority of
his team-mates, was annoyed with the tactics employed by Chelsea in
the opening clash and claimed they can ill afford to adopt such a
negative approach when they meet again.
"It's not the end of the world
because we failed to win in Spain," said Messi."Nobody could accuse
us of not wanting to secure victory.
"But there was one team that
wanted to play and another that was content to sit back, soak up
pressure and defend.
But the second game will be
completely different." Messi believes Chelsea will have to be more
on the offensive.
He said: "Chelsea will have to
open up and play some football and we know we have the players who
are capable of really hurting them." He expects Chelsea going on
the front foot at Stamford Bridge will play right into the hands of
Barcelona.
"We have a system designed to hit
teams on the break and if Chelsea pour forward, gaps will appear
and we aim to exploit them," he added.
