Guardiola: Leverkusen will pose physical test
Reuters - Monday 13 February 2012, 20:24
Bayer
Leverkusen hold a physical advantage over holders Barcelona and
will be a tough nut to crack in their Champions League last 16
tie, Barca coach Pep Guardiola said on Monday.
"They are a physically a stronger team than us and they will
be stronger than us when we do not have possession," Guardiola
told reporters ahead of Tuesday's first leg in Leverkusen.
"They are dangerous from set pieces and dead ball situations
and they are very strong in the air."
Leverkusen are the last team to beat Barcelona in Germany
back in the 2001/02 season.
Guardiola said Barca needed to control possession against a
side who won all three of their home group stage games,
including successes against Chelsea and Valencia.
"My biggest concern is knowing Leverkusen well," added the
coach. "I know their strength and their virtues. They are a
German team.
"If we do not control possession then we will have problems.
"People think that because the league is difficult we will
simply win the Champions League and if we do not win it then it
is a failure."
"Our goal is to compete well and see how far we get. We will
take stock at then end of the season."
Barcelona stumbled to a 3-2 defeat at Osasuna on Saturday
that left them 10 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid in La
Liga.