Eto'o eyes knockout stages

Eto'o: Disappointment on Barca return

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Samuel Eto'o is confident Inter Milan will not become a high-profile casualty in the UEFA Champions League.

Jose Mourinho's side still have work to do to secure their safe passage into the last 16 after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Barcelona on Tuesday.

The result leaves Inter second in Group F, level on points with Rubin Kazan and only one ahead of Dynamo Kiev.

That means the final round of fixtures will be make-or-break for all four sides in the group, with anything still possible.

Eto'o, though, believes Inter will do enough against Rubin to ensure that they make the knockout stages.

The Cameroonian admits that the Serie A giants were far from their best against Barca, but he was delighted at the reception he received on his return to Camp Nou following his summer departure to Italy.

Strange

"It was a bit strange facing Barcelona but that is part of football," admitted Eto'o.

"I would like to thank the fans for their reception and hope Barcelona qualify from the group along with Inter.

"Despite the defeat I am still confident we can qualify for the knockout phase and hope we face Barcelona again in the final at the (Santiago) Bernabeu."

Inter coach Mourinho, who also has ties to Barcelona from his days working as part of Sir Bobby Robson's backroom staff, was forced to admit that his side deserved nothing from their trip to Catalunya.

"Barcelona were the only team that played and they played very well," said the Portuguese.

"They were far superior and we can't have any complaints about the victory."