Inter coach Roberto Mancini and Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero have both admitted that Barcelona are the team they most fear meeting when the draw for the knock-out stages of the Champions League is made next week.
Thdraw promises to be intriguing, in part because some of the competition favorites such as Barcelona Real Madrid and Manchester United, finished runners-up in their respective groups.
“I hope in the second round that Chelsea and Barcelona will meet.” Said Mancini when asked which teams he wanted to avoid.
“I really hope not to meet Barcelona. However if we want to reach the final in Istanbul we must meet all the teams from now to May 25th.”
Similarly, Del Piero singled out the Spanish league leaders as well as Manchester United and Real Madrid, as the teams he would not like to meet.
”If I could choose I’d avoid Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United,” said Del Piero.
“But especially in this moment, it would be better to avoid the Catalans.”
The draw for the knock-out stages will made next Friday at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
