Celtic midfielder Wanyama: We won't sit back and admire Barcelona

22-Oct-2012 7:50:00 PM

The Kenya international warns that his side will not be content with watching the Spanish side's slick passing game and is eyeing an opportunity to further qualification hopes

EXCLUSIVE
By David Kwalimwa

Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama warns that his side will not be sitting back and admiring Barcelona in their Champions League encounter.

The Hoops star describes the Blaugrana as "one of the best teams in the world" and has urged his team-mates to be focused throughout the entire match if they hope to come out of the fixture with their heads held high.

"We all know about the quality of this [Barcelona] team, the players, how they play and what they have won," Wanyama told Goal.com.

	THE VICTOR TAKES IT ALL
14/1	Victor Wanyama is 14/1 with Bet365 to score anytime in Barcelona v Celtic

"But we are not going there to sit back and admire them as they pass the ball around. I am sure all the players selected will be ready to put in a top-class performance.

"We have had a good start [to the Champions League] and it's important to maintain that and eye qualification to the next phase. We won away in Spartak Moscow and we will even be in a better position if we get a decent result against Barcelona."

Wanyama also added that he sought out information from his brother, McDonald Mariga, about his experience of playing in the Camp Nou. Mariga was part of the Inter squad who eliminated the Spanish side from the 2010 tournament.

The elder sibling played his part in the victory by replacing Samuel Eto'o in the final 10 minutes of the second leg match played in Spain as the Italian side, then coached by Jose Mourinho, restricted Pep Guardiola's charges to a 1-0 defeat, thereby advancing to the final of the tournament courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win and going on to lift the trophy.

"We are not going there to sit back and admire Barcelona as they pass the ball around. All the players will be ready to put in a top-class performance"

- Victor Wanyama

"Obviously [I have talked to my brother]. He not only has the experience of defeating Barcelona but that of winning trophies and this includes the Champions League," Wanyama continued.

"[Mariga] has told me of the Camp Nou atmosphere and how it's easy to get intimidated by the Barcelona players."