Champions League

Messi Hoping Barcelona Can Showcase Good Football Against Manchester United

The Argentine virtuoso is relieved to have successfully negotiated a dogged Chelsea side to set up a Champions League final with the Red Devils.

May 7, 2009 1:15:28 AM

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Lionel Messi, Barcelona (MARCA)

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Barcelona were restricted from playing their usual razzle-dazzle football by Chelsea over the two legs of the Champions League semi-final.

But an injury-time Andres Iniesta strike was enough to send the Catalans into the final on the away-goals rule to face Manchester United on May 27. and Lionel Messi is hoping that his side will finally be able to return to playing attractive football.

“Hopefully, we can see Barcelona’s good football again in Rome. It will be a final between the two best teams in the world,” he told reporters after the dramatic 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

“Chelsea are a great team with a lot of good players who are all much stronger than us. We were losing the game and they did very well to shut us out and did not allow us to play our football.

“I just started to think about what happened to us last year. But with the faith and confidence of this team, we responded well, just like in many previous occasions.”

Barca are now one step closer to an illustrious treble as they have a chance to officially seal the Primera Division title this Sunday at home to Villarreal, before travelling to the Mestalla three days later to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

KS Leong, Goal.com