Mikel: Cup win lifts Chelsea for Barca
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Mikel Obi has said Sunday’s big cup win over London rivals Spurs
has boosted Chelsea for the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Chelsea host champions Barca Wednesday in the first leg semi-final and the Nigeria midfielder said the resounding 5-1 win over Spurs at Wembley has only boosted the belief they can go past the Catalan giants to reach the final in Munich next month.
“We always have the game against Barcelona on our minds, but have tried not to dwell on it especially as we had games at hand so that it won’t distract us, now that we are done with those games, we are going all out for victory,” said Mikel, who played the full 90 minutes as ‘The Blues’ zoomed past Spurs in style.
“We have the confidence that we can win but our victory over Tottenham has increased our confidence as the mood in camp is higher than ever before. I see us beating them.”
The Nigeria international insisted that despite World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi being in the form of his life, Barcelona are far from being a one-man band.
“Whenever people talk about Barcelona, they always say Messi, he is the world best no doubt but Barcelona are not about him, they have a good team with good players, so too Chelsea,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com
“We are ready for Barcelona. They have lost games this season, so they will lose this one also.”
The last time both teams clashed at this stage of the competition, Barcelona went through on the away goals rule.
The first match at Camp Nou finished 0-0, before the Spanish giants rallied to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge under very controversial circumstances three seasons ago.
Chelsea host champions Barca Wednesday in the first leg semi-final and the Nigeria midfielder said the resounding 5-1 win over Spurs at Wembley has only boosted the belief they can go past the Catalan giants to reach the final in Munich next month.
“We always have the game against Barcelona on our minds, but have tried not to dwell on it especially as we had games at hand so that it won’t distract us, now that we are done with those games, we are going all out for victory,” said Mikel, who played the full 90 minutes as ‘The Blues’ zoomed past Spurs in style.
“We have the confidence that we can win but our victory over Tottenham has increased our confidence as the mood in camp is higher than ever before. I see us beating them.”
The Nigeria international insisted that despite World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi being in the form of his life, Barcelona are far from being a one-man band.
“Whenever people talk about Barcelona, they always say Messi, he is the world best no doubt but Barcelona are not about him, they have a good team with good players, so too Chelsea,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com
“We are ready for Barcelona. They have lost games this season, so they will lose this one also.”
The last time both teams clashed at this stage of the competition, Barcelona went through on the away goals rule.
The first match at Camp Nou finished 0-0, before the Spanish giants rallied to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge under very controversial circumstances three seasons ago.
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