Guardiola hopes Barca can emulate Man United
Reuters - Tuesday 16 March 2010, 20:54
BARCELONA - Barcelona's objective is to
try and match Manchester United's recent consistency in the
Champions League, coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.
Defending the European Cup has proved a difficult task for
holders over the last few years, and the 2009 winners go into
Wednesday's Champions League last-16 home second leg against VfB
Stuttgart with their tie finely balanced at 1-1.
"It's a marvellous challenge to try and be one of the best
eight sides in Europe and to emulate Manchester United, who last
year became the only recent champions to make the quarter-finals
the following season," Guardiola told a news conference.
Barca went on to beat Alex Ferguson's United side 2-0 in the
final in Rome last May.
Guardiola also talked of the shock Champions League exit of
La Liga title rivals Real Madrid at the hands of French outfit
Olympique Lyon last week.
"Of course, it is possible the same could happen to us, this
is a great competition," he said.
"It's a warning. We could lose but it would have been
impossible for us to achieve the titles we did last season if we
had under-estimated our opponents."
Earlier, Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets said it was
important for the Catalans to stick to the attacking style that
had brought them the title last season.
"Above all we have to be ourselves," the Spain international
told a separate news conference.
"That is to say, focus on everything that made us the
reigning champions. Keeping the ball, playing as a unit and most
importantly creating goalscoring chances."
Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said Russian side Rubin
Kazan had shown the way forward for all visitors to the Nou
Camp, after they surprised Barca 2-1 there in the group stages.
"Rubin scored a goal in the first minute and this always
gives you a lot of confidence," Gross said.
"It surprised everyone that Rubin could beat Barca at the
Nou Camp. This proves nothing is impossible and gives us hope
that we can qualify to the next round."
Gross added that former Barca winger Aleksandr Hleb had
trained normally and would be available on Wednesday.
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