Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says that he has never before experienced an atmosphere quite so charged as his team prepare for their crunch Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan tonight.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says that he has never before experienced an atmosphere quite so charged as his team prepare for their crunch Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan tonight.
Ever since the final whistle blew at the San Siro last week there has been a media frenzy in Catalonia over the return leg and the chances of Barca turning around the 3-1 deficit.
The players have spoken about how convinced they are that they can win the game and reach the final in Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium, and fans have even set up a website to support the club in their effort to achieve it.
Defender Gerard Pique said the fans have to give such an intimidating reception for the Inter players that they will no longer want to be footballers.
But there is also a chance that this intense emotion ahead of the game could work against the team.
"We are anxious to play the match and win for ourselves and the fans, we are not interested in anything else. I have never felt an atmosphere like this before either as coach or player, with people coming up to us and wishing us well.
"When the players retire they will look back at this moment and the way people stopped them in the street," said Guardiola.
