We can´t afford to only worry about Ronaldo, says Puyol

On the eve of Wednesday’s Champions League final, Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said on Tuesday the Spaniards can ill-afford to worry exclusively about the threat of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

United’s 2008 world player of the year has scored four key goals in this year’s campaign on the way to the final at Rome’s Olympic Stadium and has said he is desperate to score against Spanish league-winners Barcelona.

The Portuguese dead-ball specialist scored the winner in the quarter-final at Porto, plus two away to Arsenal in the semi-final and a goal in the final will complete the set.

But while much of the pre-match talk has been about the unquestionable attacking qualities of Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Argentina star Lionel Messi, centre-back Puyol says it would be unwise to worry only about Ronaldo.

“Of course we know what Ronaldo and Manchester United can do,” said the 31-year-old Spain star.

“They have excellent players both in defence and attack, they are a very strong side.

“Sure attackers can make the difference, but you can never know who will turn the game just like in Paris three years ago.”

Few Arsenal fans will need reminding about ex-Barcelona defender Juliano Belletti who came off the bench to score the winning goal in the Spanish side’s 2-1 win over the Gunners to claim the 2006 Champions League crown.

Having already won the Spanish title, Barcelona are bidding for their third European title and Puyol says he wants to add the Champions League trophy to the Euro 2008 crown he won with Spain in Vienna last June.

“I think the Euro 2008 final has helped with confidence, but what we have done as a team is independent from the Spanish national side,” said Puyol.

“We will try to get the Champions League title to add to the Spanish trophy and the Euro 2008 crown,” said the defender who was named in the Euro 2008 team of the tournament.

“It’s hard to get to the Champions League final so you have to enjoy it, I can’t wait for the final and to get it started.

“I have a very good feeling indeed, we have a great team in front of us and we have had a good season and we will try to win the final.

“If we can repeat the result from the 2006 final that will be just fine, it will be a complicated match, we have a strong team, we are good in defence and we have some great players, but we will have to do a lot of work to win.

“It is going to be a hotly disputed final and it will be against one of the best teams in the world and hopefully we will prevail.”