Ancelotti: “We need to be confident and show our character at the Camp Nou”

Carlo Ancelotti and ex-Barça player Maxwell held a press conference at the Camp Nou this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final return leg against FC Barcelona. The Italian manager declared that his team’s approach to the match wasn’t depended on whether or not Messi is fit to play: “the whole world knows that it will be difficult but we’ll have our chances. In the away leg we showed that we can play well against a fantastic team.” Ancelotti added: “we will play to our strengths: defend and attack well, we’ll be patient and solid. We have to take advantage of the quality of our players.” He knows that in order to win at the Camp Nou, PSG must “have confidence and character.”

When asked about the comments he made after the away leg, when he declared that the penalty awarded to Barça was a mistake, he reiterated that “the penalty on Alexis and Ibra’s offside goal were two missed calls by the referee.”

Ancelotti also talked about Thiago Silva’s fitness: “he’s working apart from the group. This afternoon’s training session will be very important.”

A very special match for Maxwell

Maxwell returns to Barcelona after he signed for PSG during last year’s January transfer window. “It’s special because I’ll see my friends again in a place where I had a lot of positive experiences.” His past, however, won’t deter him from fighting tooth and nail to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League: “it’s a unique opportunity for this club and we have to take advantage of the fact that we’ve made it this far.

“We’ll have our chances and we’ll try to get a good result, we know it will be difficult,” said Maxwell, who added: “we have show our personality and have a lot of courage. Barça control their matches by dominating possession and that’s why we must be patient. We’ll try to be aggressive from the first minute.”

Messi and Abidal

Maxwell also had words for two of his ex-teammates. On whether or not Messi will feature in tomorrow’s match, he said, “there is no player that can play at his level, but Barça have a fantastic group of players.” When asked about Abidal’s return to competitive play, Maxwell declared: “it’s a great joy to see him on the pitch. It’s not only an athletic feat but a human one.”