Vidal: 'Bayern are always favourites but we are Barça, the best team in the world'

Arturo Vidal spoke this Thursday at the press conference before the Barça v Bayern Champions League quarterfinal on Friday in Lisbon. The Chilean midfielder explained: "It's the most important game of the year, and we have high hopes that the championship will be ours."

Regarding Barça's opponents, Vidal emphasised that "Bayern are always favourites. I was there and I felt it, but tomorrow's game is against FC Barcelona and Barça is the best in the world, so it will be very even." He added: “It will be a great game, very tight. Bayern have had a spectacular year, and are Bundesliga and German Cup winners. We know how difficult it's going to be, but we're FC Barcelona and if we do things well we can win. We will try to leave everything out on the pitch.”

The final stages of this season's tournament has seen a new format, and Vidal is a fan. “I like this one-game format, the Copa América is played like this and it's very entertaining, the teams go out to win. With two games, the show isn't so good because there are teams that play much more defensively than in the first game.” Asked about whether he hoped to start the match, he continued: “All the players would like and deserve to play, but the coach has to choose 11. The 11 that are chosen have to play in the best way possible in order to qualify for the semifinals.”

Finally, Vidal was asked his thoughts on Bayern's marksman and their coach: “Lewandowski is extraordinary, very dangerous and a great scorer. It will be very difficult to mark him, but a comparison with Messi is difficult. Leo is from another planet, although Lewandowski is the best striker in the world alongside Luis Suárez. Coach Flick has done very well and has won two titles."