Benfica boss Ronald Koeman has turned up the heat ahead of his side's UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona by claiming the Spaniards are over-confident.
Barca have been making very positive noises ahead of the clash with midfielder Deco insisting they will have few problems in seeing off the Lisbon outfit.
That talk appears to have irked Barca legend Koeman who has hit out at his former employers ahead of Tuesday night's game.
"They have an excess of confidence," he blasted. "They think they've already won or are going to win everything this season, but they forget that there are other strong teams in the Champions League and in Spain.
"They're going to have to fight and play well, because you don't win titles with talk!
"If they are so much better than us then they will have to show it on the pitch, and they shouldn't think it's going to be easy."
Indeed, Koeman insists that Barca's recent league form has given his side renewed belief that they can surprise the Catalan titans.
"Barcelona's latest results in the championship give us confidence that it's possible to win," he continued.
"They weren't able to beat Osasuna or Malaga.
"I saw the match against Getafe in person, and there were moments when they dominated, but there were also others in which we or any other opponents can cause them damage."
Barca have been making very positive noises ahead of the clash with midfielder Deco insisting they will have few problems in seeing off the Lisbon outfit.
That talk appears to have irked Barca legend Koeman who has hit out at his former employers ahead of Tuesday night's game.
"They have an excess of confidence," he blasted. "They think they've already won or are going to win everything this season, but they forget that there are other strong teams in the Champions League and in Spain.
"They're going to have to fight and play well, because you don't win titles with talk!
"If they are so much better than us then they will have to show it on the pitch, and they shouldn't think it's going to be easy."
Indeed, Koeman insists that Barca's recent league form has given his side renewed belief that they can surprise the Catalan titans.
"Barcelona's latest results in the championship give us confidence that it's possible to win," he continued.
"They weren't able to beat Osasuna or Malaga.
"I saw the match against Getafe in person, and there were moments when they dominated, but there were also others in which we or any other opponents can cause them damage."
