Mario Balotelli is hoping to break his duck against Spanish opposition and admits he would even play in goal if it meant winning the UEFA Champions League.
The volatile striker was forced to watch the Rossoneri from the stands last season during this stage of the competition due to his being cup tied for Manchester City, and he admits it was a painful experience for him.
“I’m happy to play in a big-match like this. I suffered last year watching in the stands. I hope I can have an impact on the pitch,” he said in the press conference ahead of the match against Atletico Madrid.
“It’s always the same things that I want to achieve: to help the group and to win. Obviously a match like the one tomorrow has something different about it, but your input is always the same.
“I’m a centre-forward, but if I have to play in goal to win the Champions League then that is what I’m willing to do.”
Balotelli has frequently struggled against Spanish opposition and he is hoping that his goal-drought against them will be brought to an end when he faces Diego Simeone’s side.
“Maybe I didn’t score much in the group stages because I didn’t play much,” he added. “I’m yet to score against a Spanish side.
“I haven’t scored for the Italian national team either against Spain. Maybe I can change that, starting with Atletico tomorrow. We score when I play with [Giampaolo] Pazzini, but it’s just a mere statistic.”
Source: MTNFootball
“[katogoaward]”