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09.12.2009 23:57
Guardiola: "It’s a huge success for the team "
Vanessa Forns
Guardiola has highlighted how hard the team worked to qualify for the last sixteen of the Champions League, saying “it is a huge success for the team, comparable to last season”.
"It is a delight to be able to continue in Europe” he said, summing up to perfection the mood after coming back from a goal down to beat Dynamo Kiev and ensure a place in the next round. He followed that up by publicly congratulating his players for what they have achieved.
"A terrible group"
"It has been very tough, a terrible group. I don’t want any merit to be taken away from what we have done because we have finished top of the group. We could have gone out or we could have finished first. We have suffered mentally, and have come on some very tough journeys. Getting into the next round is thanks to everybody’s effort, and not giving up. We have suffered a lot, and have had to work hard. It is a delight to continue in Europe, and they are still celebrating in the stadium. It is one of the happiest days since I’ve been the manager here” said Josep Guardiola.
"We will come out stronger"
He also encouraged his players "to realise what they have done, because
it’s big. I think it’s a success to be among the best 16 teams in Europe. It is a day
for us all to feel very happy. I think we will come out of this even stronger”.
Contrasting styles
Asked to describe the game, Josep Guardiola said that despite letting in an early goal "the team reacted well, and showed their huge personality. They had the patience to create the right moves". He felt Barça had "control against a very tricky team, who wait at the back and get you on the counter”. That, he believes, is a very different style to FC Barcelona’s who “like to move the ball around with an eye to creating goals, and that explains why we had 78% of the possession”.
Home advantage important
Finishing top in the group means a distinct advantage, as the second leg of the next tie will be at the Camp Nou. However, "last year we played the quarter final and semi final second legs away from home and ended up champions, although it clearly does give you a slight advantage to play at home".
Images: Miguel Ruiz (FCB)
Laporta: "We deserved to qualify"
Clearly pleased that FC Barcelona are into the next round as group champions, president Joan
Laporta felt Wednesday’s win in the Ukrainian capital was highly deserved and added "it was
important to score, and I think we dominated the game. We deserved the win and to qualify for the
second round.” He was especially contented that the team played “quality football, and
stayed faithful to their style".
Asked what team he would like to face next, Joan Laporta said “all the teams are difficult. We might get hard opponents, we mustn’t get over-confident. I am sure it will be attractive match, whoever we get.”
Barça have a hectic schedule, and the president is glad that they can get Europe out of their minds in order to concentrate on the forthcoming derby with Espanyol which he described as “important for the fans” and also mentioned the importance of the Clubs World Cup this month.
Asked what team he would like to face next, Joan Laporta said “all the teams are difficult. We might get hard opponents, we mustn’t get over-confident. I am sure it will be attractive match, whoever we get.”
Barça have a hectic schedule, and the president is glad that they can get Europe out of their minds in order to concentrate on the forthcoming derby with Espanyol which he described as “important for the fans” and also mentioned the importance of the Clubs World Cup this month.
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