Hi °C | Lo °C After a 14-hour coach journey ahead of tonight's Champions League semi-final with Inter Milan, Barcelona are now ready to attack their hosts to ensure the trip was worthwhile.
With the whole of Europe suffering from travel chaos in the wake of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, Barcelona were forced to travel to Lombardy by land, arriving yesterday afternoon after an overnight stay in Cannes.
And although coach Pep Guardiola admitted the situation was not ideal, he insisted it would not alter his side's will to win, and certainly would not be used as an excuse.
“We want to show that we are coming here to play our usual game and try to score as many goals as we can,” Guardiola said.
“We try to do that wherever we are. We have got to always be ourselves and we have got to aim to win.
“We could have stayed at home and we would have lost the game 3-0 because UEFA say we have to be here, so we are here and we are here to win.”
Barcelona made the 600-mile journey in two luxurious coaches and, although it may be an unusual way to travel to such a distant Champions League fixture, Guardiola concedes there was little alternative.
“It is not an ideal situation after a game on Saturday to sit on a bus for 14 hours to come to Milan for a Champions League semi-final, but we cannot stop the volcano,” he said.
“Many people in Europe have been blocked by it and we are just one of many. The only option was to take a bus, which was the easiest way.
“We decided to come on two buses so the players could be comfortable, and that is the main thing.”
Full-back Daniel Alves missed last season's final due to suspension and is understandably keen to first reach the final, and then be available to play in it.
The fact that the final takes place at the home of Barca's bitter rivals Real Madrid is not an issue, however.
“I suffered a lot last season being out and I think it's hard to find anybody more motivated to play in the final than me,” he said.
“It would be a Champions League final and we would be delighted to be in it and that is more important than the location.”
