Iniesta: Barcelona must treat AC Milan match like a final

By The Gaffer on March 11, 2013

Andres Iniesta has called on his Barcelona team-mates to shake off a poor performance at the San Siro and beat AC Milan in the round of 16 second leg.

AC Milan have a 2-0 advantage from their Champions League first leg in Italy, but Iniesta is convinced that Barcelona can rally.

“It will be difficult but not impossible.” said the Spaniard. “We have to play as if it was a [Champions League] final. That’s what our mentality needs to be from the first minute to the last.”

“We had an adverse result [in the first leg]. It’s not good, obviously, but our mentality and our conviction needs to be that we can turn it around.”

If anyone can do it, Barcelona can. The Spanish side are widely regarded as one of the best clubs sides ever, if not the best. One of the criticisms often raised towards Barcelona is the lack of a back-up plan when faced with a formidable defensive style, such as one deployed by AC Milan.

Barcelona need to win by three clear goals at the Nou Camp and may need a bit of magic from Messi to do it.