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By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS (Have to mention this appeared in The Sun)
SAMUEL ETO’O believes Barcelona are better than Manchester United and he is already dreaming of a Champions League final date in Moscow.
The Barca hitman said: “United are a great team but so are we. We have better players than them.
“I’m already dreaming of the final in Moscow. Why shouldn’t I?”
And his skipper Carles Puyol also insisted: “I am certain that one year if United continue like this they can win the Champions League — but it won’t be this one.”
Spanish ace Puyol, 30 on Sunday, has branded the titanic clash with United as the “greatest semi-final in Champions League history.”
Greatest semi-final ever?
The central defender has huge expectations as two of the world’s top teams slug it out for a place in the final on May 21.
United stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez will be pitted against aces like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Eto’o and Xavi. And Puyol added: “This could be the greatest semi-final in the history of the Champions League.
"Two sets of fantastic players will be set against each other.
“We have a lot of respect for United because they are such a great side and a massive club.
“They have very good players and really I expect it to be a beautiful semi-final. I am confident we will go through.”
Puyol, who lifted the trophy two years ago in Paris when BÃ¥rca beat Arsenal, is a fan of United wing wonder Ronaldo.
But he insisted that Barca have their own genius in Argie wonderkid Messi — who will be back to face the Red Devils after a long absence with a thigh problem.
He added: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a spectacular player. Not only with his game but he’s also scoring a lot of goals.
“He’s a player who can win a game on his own. But, as I said, we also have excellent players and now we are going to have Messi back who is a fundamental player for us.”
Puyol insists Barcelona will be at their best against United despite having had a poor season in La Liga.
A string of poor results have left them six points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid. Angry fans have turned against stars like Ronaldinho and have demanded the head of coach Frank Rijkaard.
Even the quarter-final win against Schalke was not enough for the fans who booed Rijkaard and waved white handkerchiefs at him — a Spanish tradition to demand the sacking of the manager.
However Puyol believes they will not be distracted as they bid to wreck United’s Euro dream.
And he insisted that despite hitting trail-blazing form United will not start the tie as favourites.
He said: “The atmosphere around the club will not affect us. Winning against Schalke was a great night.
“You have to take into account we are in the semi-finals. It’s true we have been quite average this season but you have to appreciate what we have achieved reaching this stage of the Champions League.
“United have hit top form but in a Champions League semi-final each team has a 50 per cent chance of going through. Both teams have brilliant players.”
SAMUEL ETO’O believes Barcelona are better than Manchester United and he is already dreaming of a Champions League final date in Moscow.
The Barca hitman said: “United are a great team but so are we. We have better players than them.
“I’m already dreaming of the final in Moscow. Why shouldn’t I?”
And his skipper Carles Puyol also insisted: “I am certain that one year if United continue like this they can win the Champions League — but it won’t be this one.”
Spanish ace Puyol, 30 on Sunday, has branded the titanic clash with United as the “greatest semi-final in Champions League history.”
Greatest semi-final ever?
The central defender has huge expectations as two of the world’s top teams slug it out for a place in the final on May 21.
United stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez will be pitted against aces like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Eto’o and Xavi. And Puyol added: “This could be the greatest semi-final in the history of the Champions League.
"Two sets of fantastic players will be set against each other.
“We have a lot of respect for United because they are such a great side and a massive club.
“They have very good players and really I expect it to be a beautiful semi-final. I am confident we will go through.”
Puyol, who lifted the trophy two years ago in Paris when BÃ¥rca beat Arsenal, is a fan of United wing wonder Ronaldo.
But he insisted that Barca have their own genius in Argie wonderkid Messi — who will be back to face the Red Devils after a long absence with a thigh problem.
He added: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a spectacular player. Not only with his game but he’s also scoring a lot of goals.
“He’s a player who can win a game on his own. But, as I said, we also have excellent players and now we are going to have Messi back who is a fundamental player for us.”
Puyol insists Barcelona will be at their best against United despite having had a poor season in La Liga.
A string of poor results have left them six points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid. Angry fans have turned against stars like Ronaldinho and have demanded the head of coach Frank Rijkaard.
Even the quarter-final win against Schalke was not enough for the fans who booed Rijkaard and waved white handkerchiefs at him — a Spanish tradition to demand the sacking of the manager.
However Puyol believes they will not be distracted as they bid to wreck United’s Euro dream.
And he insisted that despite hitting trail-blazing form United will not start the tie as favourites.
He said: “The atmosphere around the club will not affect us. Winning against Schalke was a great night.
“You have to take into account we are in the semi-finals. It’s true we have been quite average this season but you have to appreciate what we have achieved reaching this stage of the Champions League.
“United have hit top form but in a Champions League semi-final each team has a 50 per cent chance of going through. Both teams have brilliant players.”