Pep: Even Bolt would not have caught Pato
Reuters - Wednesday 14 September 2011, 09:18
BARCELONA - Not even 100 metres world
record holder Usain Bolt could have caught AC Milan's Alexandre
Pato when he streaked through to score against Barcelona after
24 seconds on Tuesday, Barca coach Pep Guardiola said.
The 22-year-old Brazil striker left the home defence for
dead and stunned a packed Nou Camp to score the fifth-fastest
goal in the Champions League since Europe's elite club
competition was created in 1992.
"Not even Usain Bolt would have been able to stop him,"
Guardiola told a news conference. "I'd like my team to have legs
with so much running in them."
Holders Barca fought back through strikes from Pedro and
David Villa in the Group H opener before Thiago Silva snatched a
stoppage-time equaliser.
"Certain things were against us, but all we can do is
congratulate Milan and Pato."
With captain Carles Puyol only declared fit this week after
knee surgery and his partner in central defence Gerard Pique
sidelined, Barca coach Pep Guardiola had deployed midfielders
Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano at the back.
The decision looked to have backfired immediately when Pato
exposed their obvious lack of pace.
Former Netherlands striker Roy Makaay holds the record for
the fastest Champions League goal after he netted for Bayern
Munich 10 seconds into their game against Real Madrid in 2007.
Guardiola said there were some things he and his players
needed to improve upon but said he had complete faith in the
squad, which was reinforced in the close season with Spain
midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez.
"You all know already that I cannot doubt these players,"
former Barca and Spain midfielder Guardiola said.
"If they have demonstrated anything it's that in terms of
work rate nobody comes near them."