FC Barcelona women's team begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday with a stiff challenge as they face Bayern Munich in the Estadi Johan Cruyff, kick off 9pm CEST. On Monday coach Pere Romeu and captain Irene Paredes answered questions from the media and appeared confident that the team would get off to a winning start. 

Pere Romeu: "We have to be at our best" 

The blaugrana coach was optimistic about his team's chances given their recent form despite the tough nature of the opposition: "We have trained well and we have analysed our opponents and we are sure about how we have to play." Bayern themselves are in good form in the Bundesliga and Romeu admitted his admiration for Tuesday's opponents: "They are a team who keep the ball well, short passes and a lot of movement in midfield. They can get past you and are a complete team." The blaugana coach said his players needed "to be at their best" to get a result. 

Romeu also admitted it will be an unusual encounter for his team as their opponents like to press high. "We don't come up against teams who press, we always face team who sit back and defend. We will try to make Bayern take a step back even though they will be prepared for that," said the Barça coach. 

"I am not thinking about the past, we still have a very good team with top players and staff. I am sure we will be in the fight once again," said Romeu referring to his team's defeat against Arsenal in last season's final. 

Irene Paredes: 'New format means being switched on from the start"

Captain and defender Irene Paredes touched upon the new format at this stage of the competition with a new league phase introduced similar to the men's competition. "It's a new format for the competition and that's exciting," said Paredes before adding her thoughts on Tuesday's opponents: "They are a team with quality all over the pitch and they will push us all the way. We will try to attack and defend well as a team to counter their strengths." 

As did her coach, Paredes was not afraid to answer questions on last season's disappointment: "You don't forget a final, it was painful but this is a new season, new objectives and we will use that memory so it does not happen again." 

"There have been changes to the squad but we can't make comparisons. We are committed to battling and we are confident about our ability for the road ahead." 

"We have started the season well and we want to continue in that vein. We are ready for the game and excited as we are playing top quality opposition, and we want to be at our best," concluded the captain. 

 

 

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