Eidur Gudjohnsen will soon face his former Club, English Champions Chealsea, in the Champions League. FC Barcelona will meet their European rivals in the group stages of the Champions League with both teams favourites to gain European glory.
Barca´s Eidur Gudjohnsen will probably the key figure before the Euro clash between Chelsea and Barca.


Gudjohnsen already made an impact in pre-season but showed his qualities in the Spanish Championship opener against Celt de Vigo with a stunning goal and proved why FC Barcelona paid € 12 mill. for the Icelandic forward.


Gudjohnsen spoke exclusively to FC Barcelona´s official website and reflected on all these matters:


FCB: Barça have been drawn against your former team, Chelsea. What do you think about that?


Gudjohnsen: "I was pleased when I saw that we were going to play against them. I admit that it will be a bit strange to go back because I was there for so long."


FCB: You have lived through to meetings between the two teams from the other side. How did Chelsea prepare?


Gudjohnsen: "At Chelsea we were used to studying Barça's matches, their strengths and how we could stop them. We had talks and specific tactical training in order to confront what was a knockout tie."


FCB: As well as Mourinho, you know the squad. What approach should the team have to the games?


Gudjohnsen: "Before the game, when it draws closer, I will be able to give information about the players and the tactics. But, after all, we are a great team and we have to play well, like we know we can, to win. That, in every sense, is the most important thing, to concentrate on ourselves."


FCB: What reception will receive at Stamford Bridge?


Gudjohnsen: "I hope that I am well received. I have spoken about the respect that I have towards Chelsea. I was happy playing there and had a really good time while playing for the club. Also, in the last two seasons we enjoyed some success. Therefore, I would like to think that they will receive me well."


FCB: Perhaps we are talking too much about the Chelsea games and the key could come in the games against Werder Bremen and Levski Sofia.


Gudjohnsen: "Yes, indeed. The most important thing is to qualify and, if we can, to finish top of the group.It will not just be about the games against Chelsea, but also those against Werder and Levski. We have to play as well as we can in every match and if we win them all we will be fine."


FCB: After what happened in Monaco the win in Vigo was a boost for the team.


Gudjohnsen: "Yes, for sure. After Monaco we were a bit disappointed and it is not easy to accept defeat. The best way to forget it though was to win the next match and we won three important points in Vigo. That was very good for the confidence of the team."


FCB: You also scored your first official goal. Were you hoping it would come that quickly?


Gudjohnsen: "I always try my best and if you score then that always helps and even more so as a forward. What I am more interested in is that my goal helped the team and that it earned us three points. As I have already said, it helped boost confidence and we are now looking forward to the next match."


FCB: You played in midfield in the last few games, like you did sometimes at Chelsea. Where do you feel most comfortable?


Gudjohnsen: "It really does not matter to me. Wherever Rijkaard tells me is where I will play because that way I think my qualities stand out more. It depends on the needs of the team. In the last year-and-a-half at Chelsea I played slightly deeper, but obviously scoring goals and being close to the area is better for me."


FCB: How has you adaption to both the team and the system been?


Gudjohnsen: "The reception has been fantastic. All the players have tried to help me adapt as quickly as possible. As for the new system, obviously I am still working out some moves that need sharpening and improving slightly, but that will happen gradually."


FCB: The press likes to compare you to Larsson. Do you believe that it is bad for you or that the comparison is now tiresome?


Gudjohnsen: "In some ways it is inevitable because there are ways in which it is possible to compare us; we both come from the north of Europe and we play in the number seven shirt. But really we are two different kinds of player and in time people will see that. Larsson has had a fantastic time at Barça and gained everyone's respect and I hope I can too. I hope that nobody forgets him, but just realise that I am not Henrik Larsson."


FCB: Now you are with the national team. What aspirations do Iceland have in the Euro 2008 qualifiers?


Gudjohnsen: "It will be very difficult for us because we have a tough group with Sweden, Denmark and Spain. We try to do the best that we can. Our target has to be to climb the FIFA rankings because we are currently number 106. Normally we between 60 and 70. If we can manage to do well in the qualifiers and we have confidence then you never know, but it will still be very hard for us."


FCB: You used to playing for great team while you national team has different aims. Does that require a real change of mentality?


Gudjohnsen: "Yes, it is not the same. But I always have to remember where I am from and for me it is an honour to play for Iceland. I am the captain of the country and people expect a lot from me back home. We have to give everything that we have and then the Icelandic people are happy. Obviously there is a change if mentality because at Chelsea before and now at Barça I are used to winning by playing attacking football. With Iceland it cannot be like that."