International Football: Barcelona arrive in high spirits

(First Edition)

THE Barcelona team arrived in Athens last night for tomorrow's European Cup final in optimistic mood after their dramatic retention of the Spanish championship at the weekend.

Johan Cruyff, Barcelona's Dutch coach, said his players were in high spirits having secured their fourth consecutive league title. 'Our morale is flying high and I think this will greatly help us against Milan,' Cruyff said. 'I am very confident. I think we will win.'

Hristo Stoichkov, Barcelona's Bulgarian striker, said: 'The Italians are saying we are the favorites, but it's just tactic. They are not resigned, and will fight hard. However I think we are a better team.'

Marco Van Basten, the Dutch striker out for many months with a slow-healing ankle injury, arrived in Athens with the Milan party and joked about his 'surprise' inclusion in the Milan line-up. 'It would upset the Spaniards,' said Van Basten, whose return to action next season is still in doubt.

Milan's coach, Fabio Capello, said the Croatian midfielder Zvonimir Boban is recovering from a light strain and would start along with Dejan Savicevic and Marcel Desailly. 'We are not the favourites, and this can be a good starting point,' Capello said. 'We were the team to beat last year (against Marseille) and we lost. Let's reverse the roles this time.'