By Daily Sports on April 5, 2016

Big Match Previews: Barca, Atletico, Bayern and Benfica coaches speak on tonight’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clashes

Long-time opponents in Spanish football, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will transport their rivalry to the European stage for the second time in three seasons when they meet Tuesday night at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

And in the other fixture, Bayern Munich of Germany will exchange fireworks with Benfica of Portugal.

Ahead of the duels, managers of the four sides bared their minds to UEFA.

LUIS ENRIQUE, BARCELONA Coach
We have played Atlético a few times in the last couple of years but we need to analyse them and be open-minded because they may play differently this time. They are a top team with a clear philosophy; they are dangerous on the counter and pressure you up high.

The game against Real Madrid was good for 65 minutes. Of course we made mistakes, but that is normal when your opponents are a quality team. We are not machines and I'm satisfied with what I saw. We had almost forgotten how it felt to lose, but I hope it will be motivation for us to get back on a winning streak again.

[Atlético] have amazing individual quality with [Antoine] Griezmann and [Fernando] Torres. They have many ways of causing us trouble and can hurt us on set pieces and transitions.

DIEGO SIMEONE, ATLÉTICO Coach
Both teams know each other very well. So I don’t think there is much room for surprise. They play a specific type of football and they play spectacular well under Luis Enrique.

I don’t think Barcelona’s defeat by Real Madrid will affect our game. We always expect the best of Barcelona. They will definitely be up for it, playing at home. They are strong, tough opponents.

We are used to seeing MSN [Messi, Suárez, Neymar], with all the individual qualities that make Barcelona even better. Hopefully they will face the best of us as well. It is important that all my players understand that one minute on the pitch will be a lifetime.

JOSEP GUARDIOLA, BAYERN Coach
I am Bayern coach and we always want to be the best but I really don’t think we are the favourites going into this. Benfica are playing very well at the moment and I have to admit I am very impressed.

Their stats are very good. They know exactly what to do, they know how to read the game. [Kostas] Mitroglou and Jonas are very strong and in the box they have lots of quality.

But we are Bayern, and Bayern are always considered favourites. I have lots of respect for them and for Portuguese football. Remember what happened last year in Porto ....

For the people of Munich I understand and accept that only the treble will do. If we don't win it, I know for many it is simply not good enough. But there are many quality teams. The most important thing is that we give it our best shot.

RUI VITÓRIA, BENFICA Coach
From a tactical point of view, Bayern are on another level. The style is almost second nature now. They know how to adapt to every situation during a game. We need to stay focused and play as a team as much as possible.

In the Champions League we are just taking it one game at a time – that has got us this far. We have no fears. We have analysed our opponents and they are a strong team, but we will give our all to get a good result here in Munich.

I would like to win the game – I want to win every game – but I know how difficult it will be. We have belief. We will play with enthusiasm, with spirit and desire. And we want to enjoy it. I want my team to have fun.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 5, 2016

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