Playing on small pitch at Stamford Bridge will be hell for us, warns Gerard Pique - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Playing on small pitch at Stamford Bridge will be hell for us, warns Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique has told his Barcelona team-mates that playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight for a place in the Champions League Final will be hell.

The Barcelona defender, who spent four years at Manchester United, believes his side will face a much tougher Chelsea outfit than the one that fought hard just to get a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the semi-final last week.

The Catalan giants have since been boosted by beating arch-rivals Real Madrid 6-2 at the Bernabeu but Pique insists Chelsea will be their hardest challenge yet.

He said: "Playing there will be like hell. They have to score, which means that the game will be more open. But Stamford Bridge is a smaller pitch that is less adapted to our football.

"From the start of the game, they will put us under intense pressure. As a consequence, we must remain strong and move the ball quickly."

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has urged his side not to try to compete physically with Chelsea.

"If we try to combat Chelsea physically, that will play into their hands," he said. "We want to play our football around Chelsea. We don't want to get into physical battles with them because that's their strength. We like a quick, attacking style of play and that is what we will stick to. If we go through, it'll be on our own merit.

"The team that get through is the team that deserve it and that really want it."

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