We bring you a preview of the pre-match preparations in quotes from the Catalans’ point of view. What do people think of Barcelona? What are they predicting concerning Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Psychologically, how do Pep Guardiola’s players regard the game?
1) Xavi – as quoted on Barcelona’s official website
The midfielder is naturally bold and hard to break in midfield. After experiencing so many unbelievable results against Real Madrid, Xavi’s desire to triumph still exists. The 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee has promised to give Los Blancos a tough time in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
“We'll play with our trademark style and philosophy, exciting, spectacular and looking for a goal – the more goals you score away from home, the better!”
2) Daniel Alves - as quoted on Barca TV
For the Brazilian defender, “confidence” is the word.
“I've played a lot of these games and it's been a positive balance overall. These are games you really want to play in, they are so enjoyable.
“Now we are going into another game. I guess that's only normal, because when big teams are on form, they are going to come up against each other.
“We'll be well prepared for the game. Let's see what happens.”
3) Gerard Pique – to AS
Pique sounds more cautious than his other Barcelona team mates. The defender, who was part of the goal scorers in Barca’s famous 6-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, sees both clubs on equal terms ahead of the tie.
“In a match between Barca and Madrid there are no favorites, it does not matter how they have been faring.”
4) Xavi – as quoted on Barcelona’s official website
Lionel Messi has the habit of scoring against Real Madrid. The Santiago Bernabeu is one of the Argentine forward’s favorite grounds. He is poised to create wonders again. Team mate Xavi Hernandez has total belief in Lionel Messi’s ability and he has tipped La Pulga to decide El Clasico one more time.
“Leo will always make the difference. He's usually a decisive player and he's someone who grows with these games and likes playing in these games.”
How will Lionel Messi celebrate his 300th official match as a Blaugrana?
5) Jose Mourinho – at the pre-match press conference.jpg)
If you talk about Lionel Messi, you have to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo too and vice-versa. This is how it always happens during El Clasico. But Ronaldo has looked rather distracted lately, so what does Jose Mourinho have to say about his player?
“If someone criticises Cristiano Ronaldo, he has a problem with me. We won the Copa del Rey because of his goal, and he's scored I don't know how many goals for us. He's scored countless hat-tricks. He carries so much pressure on his back.”
6) Steve McManaman – to Goal.com
Scoring against Barcelona seems to be a titanic task for Cristiano Ronaldo. Steve McManaman, however, is expecting the Portuguese talisman to get on the scoring sheet at the Bernabeu.
“Ronaldo will obviously have happy memories of the Copa del Rey last year and, with home advantage, I have a feeling he will score on Wednesday night.”
7) Hristo Stoichkov – to Esports COPE
Just to remind that the Copa del Rey quarterfinals’ Clasico will be played over 180 minutes…
“Madrid can win one game against Barca, but two games is more difficult.”
8) Steve McManaman – to Goal.com
And Steve McManaman has singled out the reason why Real Madrid might not come out from the Copa del Rey quarterfinals victorious. The reason is Messi.
“The issue for Real Madrid is that Messi is just impossible to keep quiet for 90 minutes. Even if he has an average game by his own standards, he can pop up with a moment or two of quality that decides the match.”
9) Hristo Stoichkov – to Esports COPE
One of the differences between Barcelona and Madrid is the behavior after a controversial game, Stoichkov believes.
“Barca is a club of gentlemen. They have just forgotten many things to complain about in order to play good football and that's the big difference with Madrid.
“Protesting does not achieve anything and that's how the club [Barca] proves itself to be the best in the world.”
10) Jose Mourinho – at the pre-match press conference
Mourinho perhaps agrees with Hristo Stoichkov about the greatness of the Catalans.
“Barcelona are a great team and a formidable adversary regardless how many defenders they use against us. My relationship with Barcelona is as it's always been. I don't have a problem with them; I never have.”
No problem with Barca? The Tito Vilanova eye-poking incident and several other things might just raise the people’s eyebrows…
11) Jose Mourinho – at the pre-match press conference
Finally, we can optimistically expect Mourinho not to devalue the importance of the tie like he did following Real Madrid’s Spanish Supercopa defeat last summer.
“It's not a summer tournament, so we'll do our very best. The Copa is our third priority this season, but that's the game we'll play tomorrow. That which isn't a priority tomorrow is more important. Nobody plays to lose.”
