"I follow Barça a lot. It's going to be an interesting playoff. Barça is the favourite, but Newcastle has shown that it has many arguments to pass. It will be a very tough game. In general, this Champions League is quite dominated by English teams, so you will have to prepare well."
"I think that in the end, everything starts with yourself. When I was playing the Champions League I wanted to face the best. I always lived the draw with tranquility and confidence. If it wasn't my turn now, I expected it to be my turn later, because what I wanted was to win it."
Barcelona's Champions League draw paired them with Newcastle United in the Round of 16, a favorable outcome after avoiding PSG. The potential path forward could see them face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham in the quarterfinals, followed by a possible semifinal against Arsenal. Ivan Rakitic, who conducted the draw, expressed that Barcelona are favorites to advance despite Newcastle's competitive qualities. He emphasized the dominance of English teams in this year's competition and stressed the importance of thorough preparation. Rakitic reflected on his playing philosophy, noting his preference for facing top opponents and maintaining confidence regardless of draw outcomes, while acknowledging Barcelona's disappointment from last season's early exit.
Read at Barca Universal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]