Champions League: ‘It’s not just about Messi’

BARCELONA v MAN CITY

Man City skipper Vincent Kompany has refused to focus on Barcelona’s glittering array of individuals ahead of tonight’s second leg clash at the Nou Camp.

The English club are 2-0 down after being outwitted in the first game at the Etihad.

But Barca’s poor league form has seemingly left the door ajar for an epic comeback.

Gerardo Martino’s side have lost two of their last three in La Liga — to Real Sociedad and Vallodolid — to slip to third and four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

And Kompany prefers to look at the challenge of taking on the Catalans as a whole  entity rather than single out individuals.

He said: “There are always names that stand out because they’re an outstanding team but the reality is that they are a team with players that all pose a serious threat.  

“We must be aware that we are facing Barca, not just Messi or Neymar.  They can strike blows from either side but they also have this problem.”

He added: “This is the club’s third season in this competition but it’s starting to become a part of the club’s culture.  

“I think that in the future, we will go from strength to strength after going through this learning process. We’re where we want to be.”

In team news, Andrés Iniesta missed the weekend encounter due to a family bereavement and is expected to sit this one out.

For Man City, defender Martín Demichelis is suspended, while head coach Manuel Pellegrini will serve a touchline ban.

It means the manager must do his team talk from the hotel as he is not allowed to have contact with the squad once inside the stadium.

Pellegrini has declined to do press before the game because he remains unhappy at his two-match suspension. 

Barca hurt by tax saga

Barcelona’s president has admitted the saga surrounding the transfer of Brazilian superstar Neymar has been “embarrassing”.

But Josep Maria Bartomeu told the BBC that the Spanish champions had done nothing wrong.

Spain’s authorities accuse Barcelona of tax fraud over the transfer.

“It’s embarrassing because we think we are right,” Bartomeu said. “We think we did things properly, that everything was done in the correct and best way.”

The club were formally accused of tax fraud in February, when a judge in Spain ruled there was enough evidence to continue investigations into the transfer.

It is alleged that Barcelona tried to evade £7.58m in taxes after signing the Brazilian forward from Santos in June last year.

With the initial fee paid in the summer, plus a signing-on fee, wages, agents fees and an £11.2m tax payment, Neymar has cost Barcelona £106.8m.