Champions League - Guardiola 'privileged' to coach invincibles

Sun, 29 May 00:49:00 2011

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, back celebrating at Wembley almost two decades after his first taste of European Cup success, said he felt privileged to coach matchwinners Lionel Messi and Xavi.

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Guardiola was part of the team that helped Barcelona win the European Cup for the first time at the old Wembley in 1992.

On Saturday he returned to mastermind a 3-1 triumph over Manchester United that earned him his second Champions League as coach, though he himself refused to take much of the credit.

"I feel privileged to have these players," Guardiola said after goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa gave the Catalans a second Champions League final win over United in three seasons.

"I don't feel like the boss of them. So many people have worked so hard to achieve this and I congratulate everyone."

Guardiola confirmed that he would stay on as coach for at least one more season, but as ever refused to commit himself any further.

While praising man-of-the-match Messi, who he described as "unique, a one-off", Guardiola said the most satisfying part of the night was seeing how much has team had improved from two years ago in Rome, when they beat United 2-0.

"When I looked again at how we'd played in Rome I wasn't that impressed," the perfectionist Guardiola said.

"But the match served its purpose. We trained harder and tonight we had more chances and used them better."

F.C. Barcelona victory

Looking to the future, Guardiola said he would look within himself to find motivation to continue.

"The challenge has to come from inside myself," Guardiola said. "I'm so happy to be here as a coach of these guys.

"I intend to continue one more year and we'll see. When the passion of the night has gone I'll go home, rest a bit and come back."

Guardiola's Barcelona were praised by Ferguson as the best side he had come up against in his 25 years of management.

Asked how he would rate his own side against the great teams of the past, Guardiola was his usual circumspect self.

"It's impossible to say as I didn't see the Madrid of Di Stefano, the Santos of Pele or the Ajax of Cruyff," he said.

"I would just like people to remember us a team that are enjoyable to watch."

Reuters

Comment 32 - 51 of 51

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  1. tha coach is free to stay at catalan side

    From Christopher Nazombe, on Mon 6 Jun 17:44

  2. Manu were lucky to be in the final!
    Real would have­ given a run for the money against Barca.
    Sad that they­ met in the semis, Schalke 04 just lucky to be there­ cause Inter had a bad day.
    Anyway Barca congrats to you­ as you have Liverpool guy there thanks,

    From mohanan, on Mon 30 May 21:39

  3. Congratulations Barcelona we know how it feels......ask­ mascherano

    From YNWA, on Mon 30 May 9:06

  4. Munichs got f.u.c.k.e.d big time.

    From Natty Lopez, on Sun 29 May 22:48

  5. Munich whipping boys.

    From Natty Lopez, on Sun 29 May 22:23

  6. Michelle you didnt beat them did you! You got two lucky­ late goals that took you 2-1 up at half time in a two­ legged tie. Then they came out and thrashed you in the­ second leg. And who cares if you beat United? You lost­ all the games that really mattered when you could have­ got yourselves back in the title race, in what is­ becoming an Arsenal trait! Great football in short­ flashes then they bottle it when it matters! Birmingham­ in the league cup final to end a 6yr trophy drought­ ring any bells? And this a team that got relegated? But­ Man U you were no better against Barca either and only­ Mourinhos Inter have managed it successfully. It takes­ something very special to beat this Barca team when­ they're in full flow and and I dont think any Utd,­ Arsenal or Real fans can be disheartened in losing.­ Barca are simply the most complete side in football,­ and 99% of the time are the better side on the night!­ Having said that there isnt many Arsenal fans who are­ happy cos they beat Barca in one leg, lost the next,­ beat Utd, and ended the season trophyless in fourth­ spot!

    From Chris, on Sun 29 May 20:14

  7. Get your facts right, Ian. Chelsea have finished in the­ top six every year since 1997! Five years ago they were­ winning the EPL for the 2nd time.

    And guys, Hiddink­ took about 3 months to create a side that held Barca,­ and with a bit of luck would have beaten them.

    BTW,­ congrats to Barca (esp. Guardiola).

    From Shao Long, on Sun 29 May 20:08

  8. Chris - 52, If Arsenal are not in the same league then­ United must be well out of it, at least we beat them­ this season and we beat United, so what does that tell­ you? United didn't have a clue how to play Barca­ last night, they were well beaten, no skill in the­ United team their your trouble.

    From Goonergirl, on Sun 29 May 19:54

  9. arsenal may have been invincible in england, but they­ have never been in europe! how many years without a­ trophy? and how many times has this barca team beaten­ you now? arsenal not even in the same league! lucky to­ get 4th this year enough said! Wengers Wimpy Whingers­ is more appropriate now!

    From Chris, on Sun 29 May 19:37

  10. This guy makes Mourinho look like a novice, and proved­ it a few weeks ago. Gentleman unlike "big­ mouth" Mourinho.

    From MARK, on Sun 29 May 19:36

  11. CAMPEONE CAMPEONE OLE OLE OLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ CAMPEONE CAMPEONE OLE OLE OLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID­ CABRON SALUDA EL CAMPEON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID CABRON­ SALUDA EL CAMPEON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID, MOUIRN-HO,­ GAYNALDO, AND ALL BARCA HATERS CAN GO AND CRY­ NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRADULATION TO BARCELONA­ FOR WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH CLASS!!!!!!!!­ CONGRADULATION TO MESSI FOR SCORING 53 GOALS TOTAL AND­ FOR TYING THE HIGHEST TOP SCORER IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.­ NOW FOR YOU ENGLISH FANS THAT SAY BARCA WOULD NOT­ SURVIVE IN THE PREMIER@#$%, YOU JUST FOUND THE ANSWER­ TODAY. BARCA HAS BEATEN TOP ENGLISH TEAMS FROM RIGHT TO­ LEFT AND IF THEY WERE IN THE PREMIER@#$%, THEY WOULD­ DOMINATE IT TOO. WELL TODAY IT S.U.C.K.S TO BE A BARCA­ HATER, IBRA WHO AGAIN MOVED AWAY FROM ANOTHER CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE WINNING TEAM, ALSO IT S.U.C.K.S TO BE CESC AS HE­ SHOULD HAVE DECIDED TO COME AND BE A PART OF THIS­ CELEBRATION, HE COULD HAVE WON THE TROPHY TOO BUT WAS­ FORCED TO STAYED. I WANT TO THANK MAN UTD FOR NOT­ PLAYING 10 MEN DEFENSE AND DIRTY FOOTBALL LIKE MADRID,­ LEAVE THE 10 MEN DEFENSE AND DIRTY FOOTBALL TO DIRTY­ PLAYERS AND COACHES LIKE MADRID AND MOURIN-HO. THIS IS­ A GREAT DAY FOR ALL BARCA FANS, MASCHERANO FOR PROVING­ LOSERFOOL FANS WRONG AND PLAYING AND BEING A BIG PART­ OF THE WINS. ALSO GREAT CLASS BY PUYOL AND BARCA FOR­ LETTING ABIDAL LIFT THE TROPHY FIRST, TRUE CLASS AND­ GREAT GESTURE FOR THAT. NOW I CAN ONLY HOPE YOU HATERS­ SHOW MORE RESPECT TO BARCA. THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM AND­ THEY PLAY THE BEST FOOTBALL WEATHER YOU WANT TO ADMIT­ IT OR NOT. 5 LA LIGAS AND 3 CHAMPIONS LEAGUES, 4­ SPANISH SUPER CUPS, 1 UEFA SUPER CUP, 1 SPANISH CUP, 1­ CLUB WORLD CUP IN THE LAST 7 YEARS. THIS BARCA TEAM IS­ THE DREAM TEAM #2. VISCA BARCA, PROUD TO BE A BARCA FAN­ AND A CATALAN.

    From Barcelona Dream Team Nr 2, on Sun 29 May 19:31

  12. CAMPEONE CAMPEONE OLE OLE OLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ CAMPEONE CAMPEONE OLE OLE OLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID­ CABRON SALUDA EL CAMPEON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID CABRON­ SALUDA EL CAMPEON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MADRID, MOUIRN-HO,­ GAYNALDO, AND ALL BARCA HATERS CAN GO AND CRY­ NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRADULATION TO BARCELONA­ FOR WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH CLASS!!!!!!!!­ CONGRADULATION TO MESSI FOR SCORING 53 GOALS TOTAL AND­ FOR TYING THE HIGHEST TOP SCORER IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.­ NOW FOR YOU ENGLISH FANS THAT SAY BARCA WOULD NOT­ SURVIVE IN THE PREMIER@#$%, YOU JUST FOUND THE ANSWER­ TODAY. BARCA HAS BEATEN TOP ENGLISH TEAMS FROM RIGHT TO­ LEFT AND IF THEY WERE IN THE PREMIER@#$%, THEY WOULD­ DOMINATE IT TOO. WELL TODAY IT S.U.C.K.S TO BE A BARCA­ HATER, IBRA WHO AGAIN MOVED AWAY FROM ANOTHER CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE WINNING TEAM, ALSO IT S.U.C.K.S TO BE CESC AS HE­ SHOULD HAVE DECIDED TO COME AND BE A PART OF THIS­ CELEBRATION, HE COULD HAVE WON THE TROPHY TOO BUT WAS­ FORCED TO STAYED. I WANT TO THANK MAN UTD FOR NOT­ PLAYING 10 MEN DEFENSE AND DIRTY FOOTBALL LIKE MADRID,­ LEAVE THE 10 MEN DEFENSE AND DIRTY FOOTBALL TO DIRTY­ PLAYERS AND COACHES LIKE MADRID AND MOURIN-HO. THIS IS­ A GREAT DAY FOR ALL BARCA FANS, MASCHERANO FOR PROVING­ LOSERFOOL FANS WRONG AND PLAYING AND BEING A BIG PART­ OF THE WINS. ALSO GREAT CLASS BY PUYOL AND BARCA FOR­ LETTING ABIDAL LIFT THE TROPHY FIRST, TRUE CLASS AND­ GREAT GESTURE FOR THAT. NOW I CAN ONLY HOPE YOU HATERS­ SHOW MORE RESPECT TO BARCA. THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM AND­ THEY PLAY THE BEST FOOTBALL WEATHER YOU WANT TO ADMIT­ IT OR NOT. VISCA BARCA, PROUD TO BE A BARCA FAN AND A­ CATALAN.

    From Barcelona Dream Team Nr 2, on Sun 29 May 19:28

  13. arsenal in the early noughties were the invincibles,­ find a new name.

    From Pink Pig, on Sun 29 May 19:26

  14. Having compiled that list of Europes Elite in to what­ would be an amazing team, does it not all tell us­ something that we have to use players from ten­ different clubs to make a dream team that might be on­ par with Barcelona? This Barca team is very special­ indeed and will be for years to come!

    From Chris, on Sun 29 May 19:14

  15. Great plan George, think this is­ better.....!!

    ..................CASILLAS...........

    R­ AMOS.........LUCIO......VIDIC....­ A­­ COLE

    ................XABI­ ALONSO............­

    RONALDO........VAN DER­ VAART.......BALE­

    ...................TEVEZ...............

    ­ .................AGUERO............­­

    SUB:.....NEUER......DAVID LUIZ....KAKA­­ MAICON.....SCHWEINSTIGER.....OZIL......DROGBA....ROONEY

    From Chris, on Sun 29 May 19:11

  16. A young manager with ten trophies in his bag, well on­ his way to knocking Ferguson off his perch.. A real­ master at work.. You deserve to be proud of your­ team.. And a real gentleman too.. Knocks AF into a­ cocked hat..

    From a fed fan, on Sun 29 May 19:05

  17. @george
    good idea....fax it to uefa......real for life

    From mamb real for life, on Sun 29 May 18:42

  18. @ Ian, there is no 'big' team today that­ didn't spend money to get to where they are now.­ Why not just hold ur hands up for the greatest­ footballing team in the planet today? I am no Barca­ fan, but by jove, they really are from another planet!­ Why did u conveniently forget to mention manyoo in the­ list of big spenders? I totally agree with the comment­ of Rob T. Pep and Villas-Boas won't do much good­ for Chelsea cos of Abramovich's axe which will loom­ large over what they intend to achieve. This Barca team­ took about thirty years to get here. Abramovich will­ never have the kain of patience required to mould the­ Chelsea team to this level. Nuff said already,­ congratulations to Barca. They deserved it.

    From Luckki, on Sun 29 May 18:33

  19. @tom b do you like football ? have a tv at home ?

    From Jean, on Sun 29 May 18:30

  20. FRIENDLY MATCH: BARCA vs EUROPE TOP PLAYERS
    ­ ­ O - ­ 10

    ................................CASILLAS...........­ ...................
    MAICON.........LUCIO......VIDIC....­ ASHLEY­ COLE
    ..................................PEPE............­ ..................
    RONALDO........SCHWEINSTEIGER.......­ ........OZIL
    ..............................ROONEY......­ ...............................
    .......................­ .........ETOO..........................................­

    SUB:.....NEUER......DAVIDLUIZ....SERGIO­ RAMOS.....SNEIJDER.....A.SANCHEZ.......TEVEZ........LAV­ EZZI

    From George, on Sun 29 May 18:26
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