FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.02.2007 14:03

Giuly: "It is easier to play with Eto'o"

Ludovic Giuly recognised that the return of Samuel Eto'o gave the FC Barcelona team a lift on Sunday. The Frenchman was reflecting on the win over Athletic Bilbao after the squad had enjoyed a day of recuperation at the Hotel Le Meridien Ra.

The Blaugrana winger is optimistic about the forthcoming run of testing encounters that the team will play over the next two weeks. "We want to win everything," he said. "The game on Sunday has boosted our confidence and now we have two very difficult weeks and that is why it was good that we played like we did against Athletic."

Inspirational duo

After starting the game at the weekend, Giuly reflected on the outstanding performances of Eto'o and Ronaldino, as the duo proved to be inspirational in the win that took Barça two points clear at the top of the league: "We needed to react well," the former Monaco star said. "If Samuel and Ronaldinho are in good form then that is great for the tam team because we have a tricky period coming up where we will need a winning mentality so that things go well for us. The victory against Athletic has been great for the squad and for our mentality."

Giuly was also in imperssive form on Sunday evening, but he was maintaining his modesty as he stated: "I have been playing the same way for three years. I feel physically and mentally great at the moment." Reflecting on the difference in the way Barça played at the weekend and against Liverpool, he continued: "It is impossible to compare them. Against Athletic we had seven different players in the team and that proves what a big squad we have, but you cannot compare tha two matches in any way."

Like a final

Looking ahead to the second leg of the quarter final Copa Del Rey clash with Real Zaragoza on Wednesday, Giuly is confident that the team can turn around the one-goal deficit. "It will be like a final," he stated. "It is a difficult place to go and we always have problems there. Not only will that game be tough, we also have the hurdle of overcoming the result from the first leg. We shall see whether we are capable of coming back or not, but if we do then it will set us up for the future."