Guardiola thanks Mourinho
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has thanked his Real Madrid counterpart José Mourinho for his ‘confidence in Barca reaching the Champions League final’.
A tongue-in-cheek Guardiola was responding to comments made by Mourinho after both clubs had qualified for the last four of Europe’s premier competition this week, when the Portuguese insisted Barcelona were ‘super-favourites’ to make the final and appeared to write off his former club Chelsea.
“I appreciate Mourinho’s confidence in us but all four teams have the chance to make the final, although I thank Madrid for considering we have the best chance” maintained Guardiola in a Friday Press conference. “I cannot reply to everybody as there are always things you don’t agree with. A coach’s job is not only to prepare for games but also to create situations like these. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t,” he added, before assuring everybody Mourinho’s words do not bother him.
Barcelona face a resurgent Real Zaragoza at La Romareda on Saturday, with the Aragonese team having taken 10 points from the last 12 available to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. Guardiola is under no illusions that his team will face a difficult task in reducing Real Madrid’s lead at the top to three points before Los Blancos take on Valencia at the Bernabéu on Sunday.
“Zaragoza are undoubtedly having their best run of the season,” he said. “They have beaten good sides such as Atlético Madrid and Valencia in recent weeks and I expect a very hard, intense match against a team that plays a lot of good football.
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