Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí stated this Tuesday, on the eve of the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Benfica, that he has dreamed of winning this title with the Blaugrana since he was a child.

"I've always dreamed of it since I was little. Barça is the club of my life, and my goal is to win as many titles as possible, but I also want to enjoy the moment. We're facing a very important tie at Benfica's stadium, and if we perform well, we’ll have our chances," said the Catalan center-back.

Speaking from the press room at Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon, Cubarsí highlighted that "the mix between young and experienced players creates a very positive energy on the pitch," and he assured that he feels "very comfortable" when playing alongside Íñigo Martínez, Eric Garcia, and Ronald Araujo in defense. "We're all at a great level, and it's a highly competitive position," he added.

The center-back recalled that the last time Barça faced Benfica in Lisbon, during their 4-5 win on January 21 in the league phase, the team "did not start as it should have" and conceded too many chances. "Tomorrow, we’ll try to keep a clean sheet and respond to adversity as we did in the league phase," he added.

The pride of La Masia

Cubarsí emphasized that sharing a locker room with other players from La Masia "makes coexistence easier" and that "feeling the club's colors gives a lot of energy" to the academy players.

"If Lamine and I had been told two years ago that we would be here, we wouldn't have believed it. It’s thanks to the coaches we've had and the club, which has given us the chance to debut and showcase our football. We are very grateful," he said.

Additionally, the Spanish international denied that Barça has an easier path in the Champions League and stressed that "every match is different." He also pointed out the importance of "knowing how to play" two-legged ties, referring to the recent 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atlético de Madrid.