Barca will face German outfit Schalke in the last eight, with the first leg in Gelsenkirchen before the return at the Nou Camp a week later.

The Spanish giants, champions in 2006, avoided four English clubs at the draw in Nyon, and Begiristain admitted afterwards that his side had dodged a bullet.

"It is true that they [the Premier League] have invested a lot of money in football and you can see also they they are doing a great job.

"Because of that there are now four teams here. They are the strongest [league] in the world.

"The [English] style is very different. In Spain our style is very nice but it's not so brilliant to watch a Spanish league game.

"I believe that the Premier League is the strongest one."

Despite his obvious relief at avoiding one of the Premier League's big guns, Begiristain refused to underestimate last-eight opponents Schalke, who dispatched 2004 champions Porto on penalties in the last round.

He told Sky Sports News: "We have respect for Schalke as they beat Porto, who are a strong team. We have to be careful of that."

He added: We are happy because in the second leg we play at home.

"We have an attacking style, we try to make goals, but also we need to have balance. We have to be strong up front but also strong in defence."

The other last-eight ties see Liverpool meet Arsenal, Manchester United come up against Roma and Chelsea play tournament outsiders Fenerbahce.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry admitted Arsenal were not the team he had hoped to face in the quarter-finals.

With half the last eight being English teams there was a strong possibility of two meeting each other, and Arsenal and Liverpool were the first two names out of the hat.

Parry told Sky Sports News: "We'd hoped to avoid the English teams at this stage but statistically there were bound to be two coming together and unfortunately it's us.

"We play Arsenal in a league game in between so we'll be playing them three times in a week."

Parry does not expect the two games next month to differ from their league meetings.

"It'll be very similar," he added. "We know them extremely well and they know us.

"The three games are going to very, very tight. I don't think the Champions League is going to be any different, it's tough."

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman acknowledged Liverpool's recent record in the competition, where they have reached the final twice in the past three years, winning in 2005.

"Liverpool are a great team," Edelman told Sky Sports News. "They've obviously had fantastic performances in this competition and we'll play them three times in a week, so we'll get to know them pretty well."

Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni has warned his side will be looking for "revenge" when they face Manchester United.

Roma were humiliated by the Red Devils at the same stage of the competition last season when a 2-1 lead from the first leg was emphatically overturned by Sir Alex Ferguson's charges at Old Trafford as the home side ran out 7-1 winners.

"We've drawn Manchester. Now we want revenge," Doni said.

"The trip to Old Trafford last season was a nightmare. But this year we are different, we have more experience, we are much improved."

United club secretary Ken Ramsden was happy with his side's draw.

"That's a good draw, I think," Ramsden said on Sky Sports News.

"As a fan, I'm glad we're not playing an English team because it loses that flavour of a continental game.

"We have a good record against them so there's no reason why we should be afraid."

Fenerbahce vice-president Neset Yalcin revealed that he is relishing the prospect of facing Chelsea, and has predicted a tight encounter over the two legs.

"We know it's a great team with a great atmosphere in London," Yalgin said. "We are motivated.

"They have done well in the Champions League in recent years. We have a good offensive team but they have a good defensive team. It is an interesting match-up.

"Anything can happen. You need some luck. We want to see ourselves in Moscow in May."

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, meanwhile, move to play down Turkey's reputation for fan trouble ahead of the first leg in Istanbul.

"I think that's gone," he said. "It's the first time we've ever played Fenerbahce so there's no history between the two clubs and I think everyone will be looking forward to a good quarter-final."

The winners of the Manchester United versus Roma clash will meet the victors of the Schalke/Barcelona tie, while whichever team emerges from the tie between Liverpool and Arsenal would be in line for another all-English meeting should Chelsea see off Fener.

The first legs will be played on April 1 and 2, with the returns on April 8 and 9.