YAYA TOURE has revealed how he and his elder brother Kolo are dreaming of facing each other in the Champions League final.
The Barcelona ace insists to walk out alongside Arsenal’s Kolo in Rome would be “an incredible experience” and “a momentus occasion for our family”.
But to make it all come true the two Ivorians have major obstacles to overcome first.
Barca take on Chelsea tonight in the opening leg of their semi-final before Arsenal face European champions Manchester United tomorrow.
For the moment, there is plenty of brotherly love — Kolo has helped his sibling by giving him the inside track on Chelsea.
Defensive midfielder Yaya, 25, said: “I have spoken to Kolo about Chelsea and he has given me some important details about them.
“He really wants us to beat them after Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to them.
“He has told me about some weak points which we can exploit in the Chelsea defence but, as for anything else he might have said, I don’t want to say any more.
“But I am very confident about our result. We are the best team in Europe this season and now is the moment to demonstrate that.
“For me it will be unique and incredible experience if we were to make the final — and, hopefully, I could play against Kolo.
“This would be a momentus occasion for our family — but for the moment I must think only of Chelsea.”
In 2007, there was a chance the brothers would become club-mates with Yaya on his way out of Monaco — but he opted for the Nou Camp instead.
Tonight, with Kolo’s help, he is confident Barca can see off Guus Hiddink’s Blues.
Both sides have conceded 12 goals in the Champions League this season — but Yaya is drooling over the firepower the Catalan giants have up their sleeve.
He said: “Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi are monsters and it is nearly impossible to stop them — for Chelsea or anyone else.
“Throughout the squad we shall remain calm, our moral is good and, although Chelsea will not be easy rivals, if we stick to our game Barcelona will be in the final.”
That would complete phase one of a possible re-run of the 2006 Champions League final in Paris, which Barca won 2-1.
Kolo is convinced the Gunners can make it a family affair by seeing off the Quad-chasing Red Devils over two legs.
The Arsenal centre-back, 28, said: “There is more pressure on United because they are the team to beat.
“They won it last season but we are going there to do the best we can playing free and passing the ball.
“We know when we play football against United, they struggle a lot.
“United are a really good team going forward but at the back they have conceded a few goals, like us.
“We have the same type of team — we both like to play but sometimes you can be caught out at the back. I think the team that will win will be the one that defends the best.
“A clean sheet at Old Trafford would be fantastic but they are a really strong team and they can score at any time.
“But we will go there and give 100 per cent. If we can win there, fantastic, if we come away with a draw, then it will be really good. It’s going to be a really big fight.”
Kolo believes the current Arsenal team is superior to the one that lost to Barca in 2006.
And his inspiration comes from the young guns of Ajax in 1995 — the Dutch side won the competition, even though the team had an average age of just 23.
He added: “We have lost a player like Thierry Henry, which is difficult, but Emmanuel Adebayor is playing really well.
“We have lost Robert Pires, too but we have Samir Nasri. The good thing about this team is that we have a lot of young players who want to show they have the quality.
“Remember Ajax — nobody expected them to win the trophy but they did and had a really young team as well. I think we can do that.
“It is more exciting now than 2006 because it is always a really passionate thing when you see young players playing.
“We have been together for a few years now and have made a lot of mistakes.
“We are going to learn from those mistakes and we hope not to make any more.
“At the start of this season, nobody expected us to be where we are. We just need to play free, give 100 per cent and see where we end up.”
Arsenal have problems in defence with William Gallas and Gael Clichy crocked.
But Emirates ace Toure insists stand-in left-back Kieran Gibbs, 19, will be able to handle Cristiano Ronaldo tomorrow.
Toure said: “Let Kieran play. He’s a good player and very intelligent.
“He came in at a really difficult time when we played the big teams and I think he has showed good character and I am really happy for what he has done for the club.
“I think he is going to perform well on Wednesday even though Ronaldo is a really good player.
“But it is not only about Gibbs — it is about all the players. If we’re focused and defend together then nobody can beat us.”
The Barcelona ace insists to walk out alongside Arsenal’s Kolo in Rome would be “an incredible experience” and “a momentus occasion for our family”.
But to make it all come true the two Ivorians have major obstacles to overcome first.
Barca take on Chelsea tonight in the opening leg of their semi-final before Arsenal face European champions Manchester United tomorrow.
For the moment, there is plenty of brotherly love — Kolo has helped his sibling by giving him the inside track on Chelsea.
Defensive midfielder Yaya, 25, said: “I have spoken to Kolo about Chelsea and he has given me some important details about them.
“He really wants us to beat them after Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to them.
“He has told me about some weak points which we can exploit in the Chelsea defence but, as for anything else he might have said, I don’t want to say any more.
“But I am very confident about our result. We are the best team in Europe this season and now is the moment to demonstrate that.
“For me it will be unique and incredible experience if we were to make the final — and, hopefully, I could play against Kolo.
“This would be a momentus occasion for our family — but for the moment I must think only of Chelsea.”
In 2007, there was a chance the brothers would become club-mates with Yaya on his way out of Monaco — but he opted for the Nou Camp instead.
Tonight, with Kolo’s help, he is confident Barca can see off Guus Hiddink’s Blues.
Both sides have conceded 12 goals in the Champions League this season — but Yaya is drooling over the firepower the Catalan giants have up their sleeve.
He said: “Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi are monsters and it is nearly impossible to stop them — for Chelsea or anyone else.
“Throughout the squad we shall remain calm, our moral is good and, although Chelsea will not be easy rivals, if we stick to our game Barcelona will be in the final.”
That would complete phase one of a possible re-run of the 2006 Champions League final in Paris, which Barca won 2-1.
Kolo is convinced the Gunners can make it a family affair by seeing off the Quad-chasing Red Devils over two legs.
The Arsenal centre-back, 28, said: “There is more pressure on United because they are the team to beat.
“They won it last season but we are going there to do the best we can playing free and passing the ball.
“We know when we play football against United, they struggle a lot.
“United are a really good team going forward but at the back they have conceded a few goals, like us.
“We have the same type of team — we both like to play but sometimes you can be caught out at the back. I think the team that will win will be the one that defends the best.
“A clean sheet at Old Trafford would be fantastic but they are a really strong team and they can score at any time.
“But we will go there and give 100 per cent. If we can win there, fantastic, if we come away with a draw, then it will be really good. It’s going to be a really big fight.”
Kolo believes the current Arsenal team is superior to the one that lost to Barca in 2006.
And his inspiration comes from the young guns of Ajax in 1995 — the Dutch side won the competition, even though the team had an average age of just 23.
He added: “We have lost a player like Thierry Henry, which is difficult, but Emmanuel Adebayor is playing really well.
“We have lost Robert Pires, too but we have Samir Nasri. The good thing about this team is that we have a lot of young players who want to show they have the quality.
“Remember Ajax — nobody expected them to win the trophy but they did and had a really young team as well. I think we can do that.
“It is more exciting now than 2006 because it is always a really passionate thing when you see young players playing.
“We have been together for a few years now and have made a lot of mistakes.
“We are going to learn from those mistakes and we hope not to make any more.
“At the start of this season, nobody expected us to be where we are. We just need to play free, give 100 per cent and see where we end up.”
Arsenal have problems in defence with William Gallas and Gael Clichy crocked.
But Emirates ace Toure insists stand-in left-back Kieran Gibbs, 19, will be able to handle Cristiano Ronaldo tomorrow.
Toure said: “Let Kieran play. He’s a good player and very intelligent.
“He came in at a really difficult time when we played the big teams and I think he has showed good character and I am really happy for what he has done for the club.
“I think he is going to perform well on Wednesday even though Ronaldo is a really good player.
“But it is not only about Gibbs — it is about all the players. If we’re focused and defend together then nobody can beat us.”