Tweet
Pep Guardiola insists Barcelona will not ditch their attacking ideals when they face Arsenal.
The Catalan giants are set to tackle the Gunners at Camp Nou on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Both sides are renowned for their free-flowing football, helping to win them an army of admirers across the globe.
It is hoped they will provide a fitting spectacle when they meet in continental competition, with fans expecting fireworks.
Guardiola is keen to give them what they want, with the Spaniard admitting that he will not be looking to rein in his match-winners over the course of the two-legged tie.
"Since I took the job our play has been marked by brave, attacking football," he said.
Bold
"Sometimes we've been bold and, occasionally, I think we've played audaciously.
"It's a philosophy of football. Win or lose I want us to show who we are and what kind of football we believe in. I want my team to go out and be themselves.
"Those of us lucky enough to work at this level in our profession must never forget that it's only a sport.
"We live in a world where everything is spiralling in cost and many people need to make a big sacrifice in order to go and watch a game of football.
"So for me it all makes sense, the effort, the work, the planning, the concentration and the discipline, if you do it for the people.
"The manner in which we play is a demonstration of the respect we have for the people who pay for a ticket or pay money to watch matches on television."
The Catalan giants are set to tackle the Gunners at Camp Nou on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Both sides are renowned for their free-flowing football, helping to win them an army of admirers across the globe.
It is hoped they will provide a fitting spectacle when they meet in continental competition, with fans expecting fireworks.
Guardiola is keen to give them what they want, with the Spaniard admitting that he will not be looking to rein in his match-winners over the course of the two-legged tie.
"Since I took the job our play has been marked by brave, attacking football," he said.
Bold
"Sometimes we've been bold and, occasionally, I think we've played audaciously.
"It's a philosophy of football. Win or lose I want us to show who we are and what kind of football we believe in. I want my team to go out and be themselves.
"Those of us lucky enough to work at this level in our profession must never forget that it's only a sport.
"We live in a world where everything is spiralling in cost and many people need to make a big sacrifice in order to go and watch a game of football.
"So for me it all makes sense, the effort, the work, the planning, the concentration and the discipline, if you do it for the people.
"The manner in which we play is a demonstration of the respect we have for the people who pay for a ticket or pay money to watch matches on television."
Comment