Barcelona president sends clear message ahead of Inter Milan showdown | OneFootball

Hours before Barcelona’s crucial UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg clash against Inter Milan, the Catalan club’s president Joan Laporta sent a clear message – total belief in the team.

Laporta joined his Italian counterparts for the traditional pre-match lunch, held at the Cracco restaurant in the iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II near Milan’s Duomo.

As over 4,000 travelling Barça fans filled the streets of Milan and prepared to support the team at San Siro, Laporta mirrored that spirit.

“Full confidence in the players,” he told two young Barça fans who asked if the team would win tonight, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo.

The Barça delegation at the lunch included vice presidents Rafa Yuste and Elena Fort, along with directors Joan Soler, Xavi Puig, Josep Ignasi Macia, Aureli Mas, Sisco Pujol, and Miquel Camps.

Laporta has total faith in the Barcelona stars. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Inter Milan were represented by president Giuseppe Marotta and his board.

Before sitting down to eat, Laporta and the Barça directors stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the gallery, where fans gathered below broke into chants of the Barça anthem. Laporta responded enthusiastically, raising his fist to acknowledge their support.

The first in Montjuic last week ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Barcelona mounting a comeback after conceding two early goals.

As such, the tie is poised nicely and another classic could be on the cards tonight when Hansi Flick’s men take on Simone Inzaghi’s brigade at the iconic Guiseppe Meazza.

As far as Laporta is concerned, though, he made it clear that he has total belief and confidence in the team as they aim for a place in the Champions League final on May 31 in Munich.