Pep Guardiola returned once again to the Bernabéu press room with a measured speech, as usual: “When Madrid loses it is always said that they played very badly and it is not said that the other team has played better. In these clubs it is judged like that. But I try to judge in a different way. It’s football. The other one can be better. It’s what happened last year. There’s nothing more. I don’t think it can happen this time. Beating Madrid twice in a row is practically impossible. The goal is not easy. He has a goal and pride,” he said.
The Catalan coach valued what winning the Champions League meant: “As a club it was a relief. We were doing many good things but we didn’t win the Champions League, something very complicated. Before we didn’t even participate. Now we compete against the best teams in the world, against Inter “, Bayern, Madrid, Milan… in terms of history we are newcomers. But we have achieved it. Being among the best 16 is very good for us. Tomorrow and the second leg will be even.”
Guardiola believes that playing the second leg at home gives them a small advantage: “This match is like a classic. The advantage is that the second leg is at home and there we feel very strong. Here, at the Bernabéu, the matches are very long “, for different reasons. They control many aspects of the game. We must try to impose our way of playing.”
Asked what he thought of people saying that he is a coach and Ancelotti is just a manager, he refused: “You don’t know what it means to be a good manager. That is very important for a good coach. I will never consider that Carlo is a bad coach tactically.” “There is where he put Pirlo at Milan, Kroos’ position, Bellingham’s position… In Manchester we consider him to be a great coach in everything.”
Guardiola commented on why he continues with so much passion: “I like this business, I like it and they pay me well. Here and at the Luton field. When I stop feeling that, then I will leave it.” He was also asked about the importance of Barcelona in his career: “For me, Barcelona is everything.”
The midfielder of the English team, Rodri Hernández, also passed through the press room, and was equally cautious: “I don’t think last year’s experience will help us much. Each season is different and they have a different way of playing. We “We are going to face the favorite of the competition and it is going to be complicated. The fact that they have been able to rest more is a small advantage, but it does not worry us.”
The Madrid footballer pointed out that “having won this competition gives us a little more serenity. We have learned to win and lose and that does not make us more mature.”
