Zubizarreta: Barcelona will keep quiet this year

The former Spain international believes the Blaugrana were quite rightly punished by Chelsea last year for looking ahead to a Clasico final against Real Madrid

Andoni Zubizarreta believes Barcelona have learned their lesson when it comes to presumptuously talking about a final that they have not yet reached, claiming that they will keep quiet ahead of this season’s Champions League semi-finals.

The former Spain international believes that the Blaugrana were guilty of complacency last season, having had their heads turned by the prospect of a Clasico tournament decider against Real Madrid.

As it transpired, neither Liga outfit progressed, with the Catalans bowing out to Chelsea and los Blancos being beaten by Bayern Munich. With Friday’s draw having thrown up the possibility of an all-Spanish final once again, Zubizarretta is praying that Barca do not make the same mistake as last year.

“We spoke too much about the final last year and then we didn’t get there,” the goalkeeping legend is quoted as saying by his club’s official website. “We need to focus on the semi finals.”

Indeed, Zubizarreta believes that overcoming Bayern, the form side in Europe, will require Barca’s full attention.

“We’ll see a lot of great football in this semi-final,” he predicted. “It a game between two great teams with different styles.

“There will be great players, great coaches and great fans, plenty of all those things … When I analyse Bayern’s club, squad and history I can corroborate that they’re a great club, but when I look at our own, I see the same. It’s a challenge for us.”

Zubizarreta therefore believes it is imperative that the Catalans can get Lionel Messi and Co. back in peak physical condition for the tie.

“Having all of our players is not so much a desire as an objective,” he explained. “But ultimately we have a large squad and we’ll have to use it. Let’s hope we can get them all back fit!”

Barca travel to Bavaria for the first leg on April 23 before welcoming Bayern to Catalunya on May 1.

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