Skip to content

Tito Vilanova refusing to give up hope of Barcelona reaching Champions League final

Image: Tito Vilanova: Barcelona will never give up, despite 4-0 deficit

Tito Vilanova has promised his Barcelona players will give every ounce of effort in their bid to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit in their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Messi

Vilanova has backed Lionel Messi to "have things to say" in his side's bid to make Champions League history on Wednesday night. Messi was thoroughly overshadowed at the Allianz Arena a week ago, leaving Barca needing to stage the greatest fightback the competition has seen to make the final at Wembley. The Argentinian has been troubled by a hamstring injury, which appeared to affect him in Munich, but he came off the bench and scored against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend. Vilanova said: "The more in form he is the better our chances of getting to the final, but we can't heap this kind pressure on him, we have to try to help him. "A player as good as Messi, at this point in the competition, will have things to say in tomorrow's match." Vilanova also emphasised the need for patience, pointing out Bayern only led 1-0 at half-time in the first game. And he called on the Nou Camp faithful to play their part and create an atmosphere every bit as partisan as Bayern enjoyed last week. "If we are going to mount a comeback we need our fans. Both Bayern and Borussia (Dortmund, who won 4-1 at home to Real Madrid in their semi-final first leg) had extraordinary atmospheres last week and that carried the teams forward. "We will do our part so that fans find it easier to do theirs." Barca will definitely be without defender Javier Mascherano through injury, while midfielder Sergio Busquets is a doubt with a slight groin problem.

Around Sky