Champions League - Guardiola: Bravery the key

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 12:00:00 2009

Barcelona's Champions League triumph over Manchester United was down to bravery and hard work according to their coach Pep Guardiola.

FOOTBALL Pep Guardiola Messi Champions / Foto EFE - 0

"If you take the ball and you attack and you are daring you have more chances of winning," the 38-year-old former Barca player said.

"We have not been cowards, never in the match. There's no other way. There's nothing more dangerous than not taking risks," he added.

"We have worked many, many hours throughout the season and I know there are many peope who are very hapy and this is our payment."

Guardiola, who has won the Spanish league and cup as well as the Champions League in his first season in charge, paid tribute to Lionel Messi, scorer of the second goal against United.

He said one of the reasons for his side's domination of United for long periods was his decision to move the Argentine forward back into the middle.

"Messi went back into midfield because we wanted to be superior in possession," Guardiola said.

"Without the ball we are a disastrous team, a horrible team so we need the ball," he added.

"We are not the best team in history but we have played the best season in history to win the three titles."

Guardiola had a spell in Italy towards the end of his playing career and he dedicated the victory to Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who is in his final season after a 24-year career.

Maldini's final appearance at the San Siro on Sunday was marred by fans unveiling a banner criticising him.

"I think 20 or 30 people can't spoil his last game of football (at home)," Guardiola said.

"I am very happy to have won this trophy and I am very happy to dedicate it to the player who was by far the strongest of the past 20 years."

Reuters

Comment 35 - 54 of 54

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  1. Comment 52: U too shuld close ur mouth,Barca were tot a­ lession of football in the two encounters.Its all about­ knowing ur opponent and provide a tactice. Which­ penalty was it at nou camp,where Henry was already­ slipping.He was touched quite alright but wasnt enof to­ send him down like that. before that match Barca has­ always tot of themselves as being capable of beating­ everyone but chelsea shamed them and they were­ lucky
    for the away goal rule.best attacking team but­ only one shot at goal throughout the match.

    From anthony, on Tue 2 Jun 10:48AM

  2. comment 49; U are a heap of rubbish. Dont u know that­ once a team is down by one man in such a match
    they­ throw everything upfront especially at the dieing­ minutes.Did u watch Barcelona against arsenal in­ 2006.
    Who scored first? was it not Arsenal after goin­ down by one man.Barcelona got lucky if that game has­ lasted another 5 minutes barcelona wouldnt know what­ hit them! close ur mouth & pray chelsea doesnt meet­ Barcelona next season

    From anthony, on Tue 2 Jun 10:40AM

  3. #49 - fully agreed. if we start blaming the ref in the­ second match, let's blame the ref from the first­ match who didn't award the penalty to Barca and­ didn't kick out Ballack.

    the ref in the second­ match did Chelsea a huge favor - eliminated a player­ that shouldn't have been eliminated. the only thing­ Droba could do fall like a baby and ask for­ penalties.

    I thought Barca was out and I thought that­ Chelsea managed to stifle the team...but I kept­ believing and Iniesta restored justice.

    From Funny, on Fri 29 May 2:42PM

  4. Peter Pan, on May 27, went to Rome to celebrate­ Children's Day with his little pixie friends. They­ saw the crowd at the Olympic Stadium and asked the god­ Olympus if they could join in. Olympus agreed and asked­ who would they support. They said the team who appeals­ to children most. They saw UNICEF and saw 2 BOYISH­ LOOKING players who looked just like pixies-INIESTA­ and MESSI. So they agreed to help that team by making­ sure the other team couldn't get the ball and if­ they did, the would sit on the goal post and won't­ let any goals in. Hard as the other team tried, Peter­ Pan and his friend had their way. the FINAL RESULT is­ now history. Lesson: Play like Barca, HIRE A pixie AND­ support Children's CHARITY. U'll become a­ champion! How about that for a children's version­ of what happen? Makes sense, does it?

    From mike onyibe, on Fri 29 May 12:52PM

  5. I'm a Man U fan but Man U didn't show up at­ all.....Barcelona wanted it more, they deserved the­ win. congrats to Barcelona.

    From Peter, on Fri 29 May 12:25AM

  6. For the person thats blames the ref for Barcelona being­ in the finals....you are really beginning to sound like­ rotten sour grapes!!!......for the last time; a team­ who is leading by one goal plays a team who's­ player is thrown out by the ref, and finish the game­ with one player less and manages to make a goal on the­ last minute... shows what kind of a team you are...you­ definitely don't deserve to be in the finals!..­ It's was time to separate the men from the­ boys...thats all Barcelona did to Chelsea!

    From marilacson, on Thu 28 May 4:02PM

  7. La Liga: Eto'o 29 goals, Messi 23, Henry 19, Xavi­ 6, Alves 5, Iniesta, Keita 4-4, Gudjohnsen 3, Bojan,­ Toure 2-2, Marquez, Busquets, Puyol, Pique 1-1. ­ Copa del Rey: Messi 6 goals, Bojan 5,­ Henry,Gudjohnsen,Xavi,Toure,Marquez,Pique 1-1. CL­ qualification: Eto'o 2 goals, Xavi, Henry 1-1. ­ Champions League: Messi 9­ goals, Henry 5, Eto'o 4, Bojan 3,­ Xavi,Busquets,Keita 2-2, Marquez, Sylvinho, Pique,­ Iniesta 1-1. Messi topscorer both in Copa and­ CL! Won both trophy and scored in both final! Best­ Player of the Year 09!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:58PM

  8. com. 28! MU is dirty!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:30PM

  9. I am not english (thank god), but everybody knows in­ the whole world, that Liverpool is the best brittish­ club!!! For sure! I just tell you to all english­ football fans. Good to know! Aye?!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:28PM

  10. com28! tasha.lawrence! What a great opinion! Visca el­ Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:18PM

  11. i visca Catalunya!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:02PM

  12. Visca el Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:02PM

  13. AS A UTD FAN I THINK WE PLAYED @#$% FOR SURE...BUT HEY­­ YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL, ALL OF THE TIME...QUE­­ SERRA, QUE SERRA, THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR..SO­ WELL­ DONE BARCELONA...STILL I ADMIRE BARCELONA FOR­ SAYING­ THAT UTD ARE THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE WORLD, IT­ SHOWS­ TO ME THAT THEY ARE MEN OF STANDING AND NOT LIKE­ OUR­ OWN COUNTRY PLAYERS LIKE SORE LOSERS LIVERPOOL,­ CHESLEA­ ETC....OH SO THERE IS YOUR ANSWER 22 Shahajada

    From L H, on Thu 28 May 12:46PM

  14. i have always prefer barca type of soccer to man u and­ some other english team. only arsenal can play barca­ type of football. man u kick and follow did not help­ this time.that is the reason why thy lost.........chyke­ o.

    From chike, on Thu 28 May 12:43PM

  15. Bisca la Barca

    From john d, on Thu 28 May 12:24PM

  16. The coach is set to go places. Can you imagine his­ response at the height of the euphoria? Dedicating the­ triumph to one of the legends of the game and humble in­ victory.

    From yomia, on Thu 28 May 12:10PM

  17. Chelsea3 u got to shut up. if that set up by champions­ league and it good. coz ur team not played a football­ in Barca. it coward. u need to be shame of ur team even­ their best. check ur ball..

    From Jantanterhangat, on Thu 28 May 11:09AM

  18. Barca Too good. Messi is the best. i like watching when­ messi win ball with scholes and carrick.. Messi is not­ a player that want to diving. That WOnderfull..

    From Jantanterhangat, on Thu 28 May 11:08AM

  19. Peppy- Best coach

    From samuel l, on Thu 28 May 9:57AM

  20. is it me or is anyone else bored shitless with Chelski­ fans moaning how they were robbed and how corrupt the­ ref was... Get over it, move on lol from a Gooner for­ life.

    From Graham C, on Thu 28 May 9:54AM
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