Champions League: We’re Ready For City, Says Messi

Lionel Messi says he and other teammates will tonight go out to end Barcelona’s seven-year itch in England — and prove they are still the world’s best.

Barca have failed to win at an English club ground since 2007, despite dominating the European stage and they are meeting Manchester City at Etihad Stadium tonight in a UEFA Champions League cracker. “We are ready for the match and we must prove that we are a strong team to reckon with,” said the Argentinean star.

Meanwhile, Coach Gerardo Martino believes his Barcelona team will go up against one of the greatest sides in the world tonight.

The Barcelona boss laughed off suggestions that Manchester City are a “mini Barcelona” and told his players that they could face their toughest test yet at the Etihad Stadium.

City’s free-scoring style has seen them score an incredible 117 goals already this season and many critics have compared them to Barcelona side that dominated Europe two years ago.

But Martino believes the Blues are a great team with their own style and that the Champions League clash is all set up to be a classic.

He said: “I don’t think City are a mini Barcelona or a mini any team. I think they are one of the greatest teams in the world.

“They have great Spanish players like Jesus Navas and David Silva, who know when to pass and when to cross, but it is not only Spanish players,” he added.

“They have great players from all over the world like Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. It could have been a final.

“It would be ideal if we meet them later, maybe in the last eight.

“The two teams are very good, doing very well in the league and the cups and it is the perfect timing for them to arrive into this game.”

Both sides attacking threats have been the main point of discussion heading into the mouth-watering last-16 clash with Barcelona netting just six less than City this season.

But Martino says the side who dominates possession will have the best chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

He added: “I really City’s diversity in attack. They have all different forms of creating goals and the thing to do for us is to keep possession.

“City are maybe a bit more direct but they are also very good at possession of the ball, I think the team with less possession of the ball will suffer most.”