Niko Kovac on his first game in UCL as coach: "I'm absolutely thrilled, we want a good start and to get the 3 points" #SLBFCB
Kovac on Renato Sanches: "We all know the qualities that he got. But he is a young player and will improve. Since I came here he evolved both mentally and sportingly. I noticed how happy he was to come back home to Lisbon"
Kovac: 'I don't think that we have a squad problem. 3 weeks ago people were talking about players who would sit on the bench. Regarding the topic of fouls, I'm fine with healthy aggressiveness, but not the brutal one that leads to injuries "
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Niko Kovač: "All the players who travelled to Lisbon are fit and could train today" #S04FCB
Kovač: "Thiago has recovered from his minor problem and is able to train today. He is an option for tomorrow" #S04FCB
Kovač on Goretzka's return to Schalke: "Leon has integrated well and has shown good performances so far. I'm convinced that he will do well tomorrow and will not be distracted by the atmosphere in the stadium"
Niko Kovac: "For me, Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. It was always like that, and it will continue the same way in the future" [Goal]
Kovac: "The attacking players are the salt in the soup. They score the beautiful goals. This is remembered by the people. I would wish that other players who are not in the foreground get their part of the awards"
Kovac: "CL favourites? Real, Atletico, Barca, the English teams, PSG, Juve. It's hard for smaller teams to get past the last 16. You can beat a big team in one game, but over 2 legs it's difficult. I think all the big teams will reach the quarters"
Manuel Neuer: "The 2016 game against Benfica was a KO game so it's difficult to compare. We are in good spirits and we have a lot of confidence because we've been playing well" #SLBFCB
Neuer on Renato Sanches: "He's played a very good preseason. It was of course difficult for him as a young player coming to another country but he is on a very good way and will definitely help us in the future"
Neuer on Mesut Özil's agent criticising him: "I don't know who this guy is and I don't want to talk about this anymore. Everything has been said"