Tuesday 24 February 2015 19:37, UK
Vincent Kompany says Barcelona hold no fear for Manchester City ahead of Tuesday’s eagerly-anticipated Champions League clash.
City host the Catalan giants in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium hoping to reverse last season’s 4-1 aggregate at the same stage of the competition.
The Spaniards boast a fearsome forward trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but Kompany insists City’s defenders are confident of stopping them.
Kompany said: "The next game is a massive one now and it's one of those - if you have a good day it can be a special night. So we have to prepare and I think everyone is ready for it.
"We don't fear them. You don't go in at this level fearing strikers.
"We want to play against them. It's the fourth time in a year now. There's nothing new to worry us, it's a case of having the whole team at a very high level."
City enter the game in good form after thrashing Newcastle 5-0 on Saturday and winning 4-1 at the Britannia against Stoke City last Tuesday.
Those results have lifted the mood at the Etihad after a five-game winless run that saw them lose ground to Chelsea in the title race and get dumped out of the FA Cup by Middlesbrough.
Despite City’s improved form, Kompany is aware that Barcelona represent a big step up in class and knows his team will have to raise their game if they are get the result they desire.
The 28-year-old said: "They're a special team with special players.
"I think their ability is not about hurting you all game - you can have tougher games when you go to Stoke City - it's about the fact they can decide a game within a second.
“They have more players than anyone else in the world who can finish games with a touch of magic.
"But I've come into football to play these games. The moment I'm feeling reluctant to play in these games I'm not in the right place. This is what I want."
City are anxious to make their mark in the Champions League to maintain the progress that has seen them win two Premier League titles in the past three seasons.
Their development in Europe has been slower than domestically, with this season being only the second time they have reached the Champions League knockout stages.
But Kompany said: "Our team has been proving our determination in recent years.
"We've always come back. We're putting in a fight again for the Premier League and we'll put in a fight for the Champions League too.
"The history of this club tells you that in the past six years we always keep progressing. It's only a matter of time."
