Buffon: Unselfish Messi, Suarez & Neymar have devastating attacking power
The Juventus goalkeeper says Barça are the strongest team in the Champions League
'MSN are very unselfish, they have a great attitude and I have so much respect for them'
Gianluigi Buffon says Barcelona’s devastating attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar reap so much trouble because of how unselfish they are.
Buffon’s Juventus side host Barca in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
And Messi, Suarez and Neymar arrive as hungry as ever having been kept out by Malaga in La Liga at the weekend.
“I don’t know how many teams play with out-and-out strikers like Barcelona,” Buffon said in a pre-game press conference.
“I don’t want to disrespect anyone but it’s clear that any team which has the chance to play with Messi, Suarez and Neymar has devastating attacking power which any coach would love at his disposal.
“The really nice thing that we’ve seen in recent years is that all three are very unselfish, they have a great attitude and I have so much respect and joy seeing them play together because they help each other; they give assists to their teammates.
“That’s what makes it even harder, because you’re not playing against three individuals but a well-equipped trident, a well-balanced one where all three work for the good of the team.”
On never conceding against Messi, Buffon said: “It’s because I’ve been lucky enough not to face him that often!
“Then another really lucky thing is that I’ve had great defenders in front of me who have made his job very difficult.
“Beyond all that, though, when you meet certain players it often comes down to you, but in this case I think a lot depends on destiny, fate and Messi himself.”
Barca reached this stage by overturning a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the last round, winning 6-1 at Camp Nou to reach the last eight.
With that in mind, Buffon says if Luis Enrique’s side turn it on it may be difficult for the Serie A champions to progress to the semi-final.
“Barcelona are probably the most difficult team to knock out over two legs, because often if Barcelona win or lose it’s down to them,” he said.
“They’re one of those teams who are so strong that they can create their own destiny if they want, so you understand the huge respect we have for them.
“But we don’t want to just make up the numbers, we want to play with courage, this is a chance we’ve earned and we’ll try to show our best.”
