Mata: Man City are no Barcelona

Posted Monday, December 12, 2011 by ESPN

Chelsea winger Juan Mata insists Manchester City are far from the level of Barcelona and that his side hold no fear for them ahead of Monday's clash.

The two English giants clash at Stamford Bridge on Monday still recovering from their respective Champions League matches in midweek.

The Blues will draw confidence from reaching the knock-out round of the competition while City look to regain their five point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League standings.

Looking ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, Mata admits City are the team to beat but insists they are far from the level of Barcelona.

"It is very difficult for them to win every game, as they are doing at the moment. So for us and the other teams, we just have to hope that they stop winning," he was quoted as saying in The Daily Mirror.

"It is very difficult to be like Barcelona for other teams," he added. "They have been together for three or four years.

"City are playing very well as well, but Barca have some of the best in the world. As a player, you have respect for Barcelona but you never have fear. You have to plan for a good game with them and to try to cause them problems.

"So, no, we do not have any fear of City, especially because we're playing at home, but we do have the ultimate respect for them because they're the league leaders."

Defeat would be a massive blow to Chelsea's title hopes and make City even firmer favourites to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years.

But Mata was not interested in the implications of falling 13 points adrift, saying: "I'm just thinking of winning."

Some have already dismissed Chelsea's title bid, regardless of Monday's result, but Mata added: "It is not impossible.

"There are so many weeks until the Premier League finishes. We will keep going every week to win and to be closest to the leader."