RAKITIC HIT BACK AT KLOPP ASKING HIM TO RESPECT CAMP NOU

• The Croatian believes the Reds' coach 'wanted to take the pressure off his players'.
• However, Rakitic urges to show more respect to the unique atmosphere: "It's a different stadium, with a different atmosphere and that you have to respect."
• He also admits he wishes Barca could always play at home.
• Previously, Klopp said that Camp Nou isn't 'a football temple'.

Ivan Rakitic faces the press ahead of Wednesday's first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool. He issues a warning to the Reds' head coach Jurgen Klopp who has lately diminished the importance of Camp Nou.

The Croatian fires back: "Klopp wanted to take the pressure off his players, I respect his opinion, playing at the Camp Nou is something different, special, it does not matter whether it's a temple or not."

However, he highlights the importance of respect between the sides: "It's a different stadium, with a different atmosphere and that you have to respect. I wish we could always play at the Camp Nou, we have to respect the opinion of everyone."

On Monday, Klopp said in an interview to DAZN: "The Camp Nou is just a stadium, quite big, but it's not a football temple."

FC Barcelona official Twitter account responded in style the following day: "This is Camp Nou. Our home. Our temple. Our fortress."