Abu Dhabi: Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, one of the world's most influential midfielders, has some unfinished business at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.
If Barcelona win their semifinals against Mexico's Atlante and move into Saturday's final, it will be precisely six years to the day when the Iniesta-led Spanish team played with 10-men and lost the Fifa World Youth Championship (Under-20) final to Brazil at the venue.
Iniesta's teammate Melli was controversially sent off in the fourth minute and despite a heroic display, Iniesta's team went down by a solitary goal.
Later that night on December 19, 2003, a crest-fallen Iniesta, who had stamped his class in the event, watched the UAE's rising star Esmail Matar bag the Golden Ball award for the championship.
Iniesta has since grown into one of the world's top midfield players for Barcelona as well as Spain. It was his goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals that saw his club through to the final where they outclassed the mighty Manchester United 2-0.
"This is the most important title for all of us as we've never won it. We're excited about taking part. We played in it three years ago, and it left us with a taste for more. We really want to win it as we'd be making history", Iniesta told Barca TV before coming here.
Iniesta, who along with teammates Lionel Messi and Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, is in the running for the Fifa Footballer of the Year award to be announced on December 21.
With Messi unlikely to play in the semifinal, Iniesta has the chance to be the main creative force for his team and bag the one trophy that has eluded them. Barca lost in the 2006 final to Sporting Club Internacional de Porto Alegre, a defeat that still troubles Iniesta.
"Nobody likes to lose in a final, and the defeat three years ago unsettled us. At least it taught us the lesson of not taking any team for granted.
"It's always great to win a trophy. This year we have won every competition we have been in. This is the only one left for us to win. This is enough to give us 100 per cent motivation," Iniesta added.
If Barcelona win their semifinals against Mexico's Atlante and move into Saturday's final, it will be precisely six years to the day when the Iniesta-led Spanish team played with 10-men and lost the Fifa World Youth Championship (Under-20) final to Brazil at the venue.
Iniesta's teammate Melli was controversially sent off in the fourth minute and despite a heroic display, Iniesta's team went down by a solitary goal.
Later that night on December 19, 2003, a crest-fallen Iniesta, who had stamped his class in the event, watched the UAE's rising star Esmail Matar bag the Golden Ball award for the championship.
Iniesta has since grown into one of the world's top midfield players for Barcelona as well as Spain. It was his goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals that saw his club through to the final where they outclassed the mighty Manchester United 2-0.
"This is the most important title for all of us as we've never won it. We're excited about taking part. We played in it three years ago, and it left us with a taste for more. We really want to win it as we'd be making history", Iniesta told Barca TV before coming here.
Iniesta, who along with teammates Lionel Messi and Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, is in the running for the Fifa Footballer of the Year award to be announced on December 21.
With Messi unlikely to play in the semifinal, Iniesta has the chance to be the main creative force for his team and bag the one trophy that has eluded them. Barca lost in the 2006 final to Sporting Club Internacional de Porto Alegre, a defeat that still troubles Iniesta.
"Nobody likes to lose in a final, and the defeat three years ago unsettled us. At least it taught us the lesson of not taking any team for granted.
"It's always great to win a trophy. This year we have won every competition we have been in. This is the only one left for us to win. This is enough to give us 100 per cent motivation," Iniesta added.
