Paris Saint-Germain's crunch Champions League clash in Barcelona has the French football world abuzz, with Ligue 1 players, coaches, past greats and even José Mourinho weighing in. A look at some choice quotes.
While much is being said about Paris Saint-Germain's chances of prevailing at the Camp Nou to decide a tie delicately balanced at 2-2 after a thrilling first leg, former France and Newcastle legend David Ginola has a unique perspective on the clash in Catalonia, having been part of the PSG side who beat Barcelona at the same stage of the competition back in 1995.
Ginola: 'It's like you're after a very beautiful woman...'
"The players will be pretty apprehensive, because it's a big unknown," said the flamboyant attacker. "You know you're heading into a situation you've never been in before. But it's exciting; it's like you're after a very beautiful woman who you think is out of your league and you find yourself in front of her and you don't know what to say. In 1995, we were faced with a beautiful woman, and in the end, we conquered her."
Over and above the quality - or beauty! - of the opposition, Ginola explained that the Camp Nou itself will present a formidable challenge for Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Fortress
"You get the feeling that life in Barcelona revolves around their team," he said. "You feel like you're in a different world, and football is king. At the Parc des Princes, you have 45,000 people. In Barcelona, there are almost 90,000. You feel so small, and you have to be at your very best to feel any bigger. You're stressed, your palms are clammy and you try to talk to your friends on the phone but you can't even talk to them."Ginola's allegiance for the big clash can be clearly imagined, but José Mourinho - whose Real Madrid side qualified for the semis with a somewhat nervy win over Galatasaray on Tuesday - had a more cryptic way of expressing his support for PSG when asked whom he would prefer to see make it through to the next round.
"I have friends in Paris, I have no friends in Barcelona," said The Special One flatly - in French, of course.
The buzz
Here's a look at what Ligue 1's current players and coaches have had to say about the gala match, with support coming in even from arch-rivals Marseille:
Souleymane Diawara (Marseille defender, in Le Parisien): "I have my sources: Messi won't play. I'm going to support my friend Jérémy Ménez to the very end. I say 2-1 or 0-0 for PSG. I believe in their chances."
Jordan Ayew (Marseille forward): "Personally. I think Paris will qualify. They equalised in the last minute of the first leg and I think they can pull off the win. They have a chance, and I think they can take it. My money's on Paris. They defend well and they get forward incredibly quickly. Anything can happen. Paris have had a huge season with some great players."
Benoît Cheyrou (Marseille midfielder, in Le Parisien): "I say 4-0 for Barça. Barcelona will have over 75% of possession. At home, their dominance is even more outrageous."
Ludovic Obraniak (Bordeaux midfielder, in Le Parisien): "If there's some kind of mistake or misunderstanding, Paris can go through. I believe in PSG's chances because I love the way they play. It would be amazing!"
Aurélien Chedjou (Lille defender): "I'm supporting PSG because they're a French team. It is possible for PSG to qualify but it will be very difficult. I hope Messi doesn't play; they are so much better with him on the field, we saw that in last week's game. Still, with or without Messi. Barcelona are very dangerous. I'm hoping for an entertaining 3-3 draw, which will send PSG through."
Daniel Sanchez (Valenciennes coach in Le Parisien): "[Blaise] Matuidi's absence will make a huge difference. The real positive for Paris is that they have nothing to lose. I'm betting on a 2-1 win for PSG.
Rudi Garcia (Lille coach, on RMC): "Based on the intrinsic quality of the two sides, Paris can't qualify but given the particulars of the situation - notably the possible absence of Messi - why not? I was surprised that PSG managed a draw in the first leg. Honestly, Paris can pull out a shock result here. They have the players to do it."
Francis Gillot (Bordeaux coach, in Le Parisien): "Barcelona remain the favourites but Paris have a chance. This quarter-final will depend a lot on Messi. Even the best team in Europe need their best player. Without him, Barcelona's quality dips."
Christophe Galtier (Saint-Etienne coach, in Le Parisien): "There is Barcelona with Messi and Barcelona without Messi. It's a tough challenge, but I'm hoping that PSG can clinch a shock result."
Claude Puel (Nice coach, in Le Parisien): "PSG are capable of scoring in this match because they have this capacity to get forward very quickly. However, this time, they will need to do it not just for 20 minutes, as they did in the first leg, but for the whole match. Paris have reason to hope for a result."
René Girard (Montpellier coach, in Le Parisien): "Barça have already been beaten by Inter and Chelsea, so why couldn't Paris do the same?"
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