Stuttgart director of sport Horst Heldt admits his team must play
"the game of our lives" to knock Barcelona out of the Champions
League.
The Swabians were unfortunate to take only a 1-1 draw into
the second leg at the Nou Camp, but their inspired performance at
the Mercedes-Benz Arena a few weeks ago will only make the task of
defeating the Spaniards even harder.
Barcelona are not going to underestimate them now, which is
why Heldt insists only the perfect game will be enough.
"If we want to achieve the impossible, we have got to play
the game of our lives," he told Sport1.de before the team's
departure for Barcelona.
"But we are not going there just for fun. We do have a mini
chance."
Coach Christian Gross welcomes Matthieu Delpierre back into
his defence after a recent suspension while Christian Trasch could
move into a more defensive midfield instead of Timo Gebhart.
Cacau, who scored his first goal in the competition during
the first leg, will lead the attack and he will be aiming to find
the back of the net again after drawing a blank in the last two
Bundesliga matches, of which Stuttgart have failed to win either.
Stuttgart will be looking to join Bayern Munich as the second
Bundesliga representatives in the last eight, while Barcelona need
to restore some Spanish pride and establish bragging rights over
Real Madrid, eliminated last week.
Barca will be favourites to progress but Brazil full-back
Dani Alves has warned his team against over-confidence.
"If you're not at 200%, you're out," he said. "We have to
charge our batteries and be prepared. I want to go through to the
next round.
"We have a magnificent opportunity in front of our own fans
and in our own stadium. We mustn't waste it.
"We know how important and difficult the competition is. The
slightest slip and they can send you home.
"It's a really difficult match and we have to go flat out."
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in the weekend's 3-0 defeat
of Valencia to take his tally to 22 league goals for the season.
And Dani Alves is fully aware of just how important the FIFA
World Player of the Year is to the team.
"He's in excellent form. He's saving us a lot," said the
defender. "We've got the best player in the world.
"He pulls the team forward, takes charge and we are the keys
that help operate the command.
"I hope that the attack keeps working right to the end."
Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who also shone against
Valencia as he kept another clean sheet, agrees with his team-mate
and believes that Messi could become even better.
"He's the best in the world," said Valdes. "What he
contributes with his talent makes him stand out.
"He could become the best player in history.
"I'm happy with the way things are working out. I'm in a good
moment, both individually and for the team."
Captain Carles Puyol is Pep Guardiola's only injury concern
and the defender has been training separately since a back injury
forced him out of the Valencia match at the last moment.
