Ronaldinho pledges goals galore

Ronaldinho says he has been inspired by Sevilla FC's UEFA Cup heroics to produce a flurry of goals in the UEFA Champions League final.

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Following Sevilla's four-goal show against Middlesbrough FC in Eindhoven last week, FC Barcelona's Brazilian international has promised a similar display of attacking football versus Arsenal FC at the Stade de France. "Finals are not normally games of many goals, except the last one between Liverpool [FC] and [AC] Milan. But we're going to try and change that, and score goals like Sevilla did in the UEFA Cup final," Ronaldinho told uefa.com. "They scored four goals and nobody expected that. Also nobody expected [RCD] Espanyol to score four past Real Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey. The final doesn't have a clear script. The Milan-Barça semi-final looked like being a game of goals but nobody scored in the second leg. We'll be aiming to score lots."

Midfield focus
On Wednesday, Ronaldinho returns to Paris - where he spent two years with Paris Saint-Germain FC - to spearhead Barcelona's bid to become European champions for a second time. Although he is regarded as being key to Barça's chances, the No10 nominates the midfield as the area where the match will be decided. "The battle to control the midfield is where the game could be won and lost. Arsenal have Cesc [Fabregas], Gilberto and [Aleksandr] Hleb and we have Deco, Edmílson and [Andrés] Iniesta. The midfield is always crucial and this match will be no different. Arsenal are a great team and they play nice football. They have Thierry Henry, Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pirès, they are a very balanced side that plays attacking football, and it will be very hard to beat them."

Harder opponents
The Spanish champions, who sealed a second consecutive Primera División crown on 3 May, overcame English Premiership winners Chelsea FC en route to the final. Arsenal finished 24 points behind José Mourinho's men in fourth place, yet despite this, Ronaldinho believes the Gunners are a tougher proposition. "It will be harder playing Arsenal than Chelsea," he said. "Against Chelsea we had the opportunity to put things right in our stadium if things didn't go well in the first game. We had luck and played well. The difference with Arsenal is there is no margin for error. This is the reason it will be more difficult. Also, Arsenal have not conceded a goal in ten European matches. That record is proof that we are playing a great team and we will have to make a huge effort. But we give nothing away in defence either.

No certainties
"The reason I joined Barcelona was to play in finals like this," the 26-year-old continued. "I'm sure we're favourites because we have a great team, we create a lot of chances and we have the quality to lift the cup. But we're up against great opponents and nobody can be certain we're going to win. I can't be sure that I will get my hands on the trophy."