Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard has warned his team mates that they must not allow their concentration levels to drop when they meet Barcelona next week.
City, who are priced at 7.50 to win the Premier League, have been handed arguably the toughest draw of all the English sides in the
last-16 of the Champions League and will take on Luis Enrique’s men over two legs.
Lampard, who has featured against the Catalan outfit on a number of occasions during his time with Chelsea, insists that they must put in a flawless performance.
The 36-year-old has plenty of experience on the European stage and wore the captain’s armband when Chelsea lifted the Champions League in 2012, while also netting when the Blues were defeated in the final by Manchester United in 2008.
The former England international was part of the Chelsea squad which saw off Barcelona in the 2012 semi-finals, and has only lost twice in 10 Champions League meetings with the Blaugrana.
The Citizens will host the Spanish giants in the first leg on February 24 and Lampard has urged his team mates to be at the top of their game.
Lampard said: “It is difficult to win against these teams – but to go on and win it you have to win matches like this.
“We have to be on the ball for both games against Barcelona because you’re playing against such high quality that one lapse of concentration will cost you the game.”
The defending Premier League champions have never made it past the last-16 of the Champions League, having been beaten by Barca 4-1 on aggregate at this stage last season.
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