RIO DE JANEIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Argentine forward Joaquin Correa said Saturday his team will "give everything" to qualify for the Copa Libertadores group stage as it prepares for its decisive qualifier against Ecuador's Barcelona SC.
The winner of Tuesday's match at Rio's Nilton Santos Stadium will advance to the competition proper following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Guayaquil last week.
"For us, it will be a very important game," Correa told reporters. "Botafogo has to play in the Libertadores and fight to be one of the best teams in South America. I think we can do it because we have many quality players, we have a coach who wants to win, and we will give everything to make the fans happy, because they are always with us."
Correa said he was fully fit again after recovering from a leg muscle injury. The 31-year-old former Lazio and Inter Milan attacker scored one goal and set up another as Botafogo beat Bangu 3-1 in the Rio state championship on Saturday.
"I spent almost two months on the sidelines with an injury that had been bothering me since last year," said Correa, who has 20 Argentina caps.
"So for me, it is important to return and play 90 minutes. I also want to talk about our young players, because they have been training well. Botafogo has a good youth system, and it's clear the boys have quality, so congratulations to them." ■
