Fernando Torres has warned Barcelona he is ready to carry on his great goal-scoring record against them tonight.
The Chelsea striker says the way the Spanish champions play suits him, having scored seven goals in 10 matches while he was at Atletico Madrid.
Torres is under pressure to impress in the Champions League semi-final as he is battling to earn a place in Spain’s squad for Euro 2012.
But the 28-year-old, who helped Spain win Euro 2008 and the last World Cup, claims he isn’t worried about making the squad or the threat Barcelona pose to his dream of winning Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.
He said: “I have nothing to prove, I spent a nice, long time in Spain. Barcelona were the main team along with Real Madrid and always the motivation was very high to play against them.
“I have a good record against Barcelona, they are the type of team you have to defend well against and play on the counter-attack, which is the type of game I enjoy.
“When I was at Atletico Madrid, we won at the Nou Camp two or three times but now it’s different because Chelsea are a top team as well but I certainly don’t feel as if I have anything to prove against Spanish opposition.
“I know the ambitions this club have in terms of winning the Champions League but it’s the same as what I have myself.
“It’s something I dreamt about as a youngster growing up, I never really thought about winning the World Cup as I thought it was impossible but now I’ve achieved that and I know what it feels like, so to win the Champions League would be a dream come true.
“It was the only trophy that I wanted as a kid, to hold it in my arms, and if we do manage to win it, I’m sure it will be one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Torres is nearing the end of his first full season at Chelsea having joined them for a British-record £50million from Liverpool 15 months ago.
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He is still waiting for his first major winners’ medal in club football but can put that right in the Champions League as well as in the FA Cup Final, against his former club Liverpool, next month.
Torres has appeared to suggest Chelsea’s challenge on both grand stages has justified his decision to quit Anfield for London.
He added: “There isn’t one single club in the world that can guarantee trophies but top teams like Chelsea are always fighting for them, so now it’s time to be patient, build a great team and it’s good for me to be involved with such a good side, like the one we have now.
“There’s still one month left in the season, we’re in the final of the FA Cup, the semi-finals of the Champions League and this is what I want. Whether you win or not, that is down to football, but we’re there and that’s the main thing.”
However, Torres, who hopes to be picked ahead of Didier Drogba to lead the line at Stamford Bridge this evening, says Chelsea must make sure they are playing in the Champions League next term. They are currently two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
While they can also qualify by winning this season’s tournament, Torres said: “We have to finish in the top four, that has to be the main aim because it would be a disaster if we weren’t playing in the Champions League next season.”
