After clinching the La Liga title last week, Barcelona will hope to get one step closer in its quest for a treble when it locks horns with Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals.
Liverpool players during training on Tuesday
Chennai:
But for it to take a substantial lead to Anfield, the host will have to deal neatly with gigantic centre-back Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutchman recently won the PFA Player of the Year award and football expert Ashley Westwood believes Barcelona will be wary of his presence in the backline. “The home team will be well aware of him. He has proven that he is one of the world’s best central defenders. This season, no player has dribbled past him, that is one stat I saw. It shows you how good he is while defending in 1v1 situations. He is strong in the air as well and is a huge player for Liverpool,” Westwood told DT Next.
The Merseyside-based outfit sits one point behind leader Manchester City in the Premier League title race and is in danger of missing out on the coveted trophy for yet another time. On how important is European success in such a scenario, the 42-year-old stated, “It still has a chance in PL, although City’s fate is in its own hands. It has lost only one game, but it is not in charge of its own destiny. It will be a shame if it doesn’t get a trophy this season. The side is on the way to achieving great things and there has been a steady progression. It doesn’t desperately need to win the CL to cap the season off, but it would be nice.”
Ajax Amsterdam has knocked off some of the competition’s heavyweights, Real Madrid and Juventus, on its way to the final four. Despite having such a young squad, manager Erik ten Hag has guided his troops phenomenally. “It has used a lot of youth players, who come up through the academy system. The club has invested on them. It plays good, attractive football, but nothing too complicated. All members it has are very talented, and they manage to control matches,” he praised Ajax.
The Catalans, which is back in the last four stage after a three-season absence, hosts Liverpool in an iconic first leg clash at the Camp Nou on Thursday. With Lionel Messi and former Reds Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in its ranks, Barcelona could weave its magic against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
But for it to take a substantial lead to Anfield, the host will have to deal neatly with gigantic centre-back Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutchman recently won the PFA Player of the Year award and football expert Ashley Westwood believes Barcelona will be wary of his presence in the backline. “The home team will be well aware of him. He has proven that he is one of the world’s best central defenders. This season, no player has dribbled past him, that is one stat I saw. It shows you how good he is while defending in 1v1 situations. He is strong in the air as well and is a huge player for Liverpool,” Westwood told DT Next.
The Merseyside-based outfit sits one point behind leader Manchester City in the Premier League title race and is in danger of missing out on the coveted trophy for yet another time. On how important is European success in such a scenario, the 42-year-old stated, “It still has a chance in PL, although City’s fate is in its own hands. It has lost only one game, but it is not in charge of its own destiny. It will be a shame if it doesn’t get a trophy this season. The side is on the way to achieving great things and there has been a steady progression. It doesn’t desperately need to win the CL to cap the season off, but it would be nice.”
Ajax Amsterdam has knocked off some of the competition’s heavyweights, Real Madrid and Juventus, on its way to the final four. Despite having such a young squad, manager Erik ten Hag has guided his troops phenomenally. “It has used a lot of youth players, who come up through the academy system. The club has invested on them. It plays good, attractive football, but nothing too complicated. All members it has are very talented, and they manage to control matches,” he praised Ajax.