The Barcelona playmaker believes the Chelsea they will see on Wednesday, April 18 is different from the one they beat three years ago.
Andres Iniesta was the hero for the Catalan outfit in their last meeting with Chelsea. The Spanish international scored the winner in injury time to secure a Champions League final meeting with Manchester United.
The two European outfits meet each other on the same stage as three years before but the 2010 World Cup winner believes their rivals are not the side they faced before.
Iniesta claimed that the Pensioners have more experience now in the form of Fernando Torres and Juan Mata, and can create problems for them.
He added that with the additions Chelsea have made in their roster, it will be a tough fixture, but hopes Barcelona can overcome them to earn a ticket for the final at the Allianz Arena.
"They have more experience now," Iniesta said. "They signed some new players, like http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707 and Juan Mata.”
"They are very strong, dangerous and intense and all that will be even more noticeable in their stadium.”
"We expect a very tough tie and we hope we can do things well to be where we all want to be."
Barcelona’s Champions League fixtures have a league meeting with Real Madrid sandwiched in between, and Iniesta believes their season objectives hinge on the results of these matches.
He stressed that games against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 will be detriment to their ambitions of retaining their European crown, while the encounters with Real Madrid will decide who lifts LA Liga title at the end of the 2011/12 season.
"We are playing for a place in the Champions League final and on Saturday we will play to remain in the race for La Liga," he stated.”
"We are fighting for titles again and we have our chances. We have one final step to take and we hope it will go well."
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604’s Champions League semi-final first leg fixture against Chelsea is scheduled for April 18 and kicks off at the Stamford Bridge on 20 45 Central European Time. The return leg has been given the April 24 date.
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