"I wouldn't swap any of our players for any of PSG's players"

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he would not swap any of his side's first-team squad for any of Paris Saint-Germain, who are their opponents in the Champions League quarter-finals.

A few hours before the first leg of the tie in Paris, the president sent out a message of optimism, saying that both the players and coaching staff are "united" and "focused" ahead of Wednesday's showdown.

"That makes us believe in them because I see that they believe in their chances. It's a pleasure to have these players and I wouldn't swap any of our players for any PSG player," confessed Laporta, who expects a "great game" in which he hopes Barça will be able to "get the tie back on track".

He also celebrated the fact that the Catalan side will once again be playing in a Champions League quarter-final four years later and doing so against an opponent of PSG's calibre. "It's a quarter-final in Paris and Barcelona, two cities that are linked by many things, including the rivalry between PSG and Barca," he added.