Pep making plans to put brakes on star Messi
Guardiola has to work on a plan to beat his old team and curb the Messi magic
AFTER y e ars of hoping he would rip opposition defences to shreds, Pep Guardiola has admitted he has to start trying to work out a way to stop Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
There was an audible gasp at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon yesterday when the Spaniard’s current side Bayern Munich were drawn against the club with whom he achieved so much as both player and manager.
Guardiola’s four-season spell at the Barca helm yielded 14 trophies, including two triumphs in the Champions League — something he will now look to deny them.
The eyes of the footballing world will be trained on the Nou Camp on May 6, when he leads Bayern out for the first leg of a tie which will decide who progresses to the Berlin f i nale against either holders Real Madrid or Juventus.
‘We will have to see what we can do in each of the two games and we will try to create the best defensive system possible to stop Messi,’ said Guardiola.
‘ Barcelona are a wonderful team — but so are we. I knew it would happen sooner or later (the teams meeting).
‘It’s my first return to Barcelona, my home. I was there as player, I was there as coach.
‘Of course it is special for me, for Thiago (Alcantara, who also left Barca for Bayern), for my staff. I am very happy that I can experience this.
‘It is a nice game, but not easy. Believe me, Barcelona are the strongest.
‘I’m happy for Luis Enrique. He is a great coach, a great man. We will definitely try to play the final in our capital (Berlin).’
Guardiola and Enrique played alongside one another for many years at the Nou Camp, winning a host of medals together.
Now they will sit in opposite dugouts in a tie which Barca coach Enrique is understandably excited about.
‘It is a special game because Pep Guardiola is Bayern’s coach,’ he admitted.
‘It will be the first time he comes back to face the club. It will also be special for the players.
‘We’ve played 10 matches in the Champions League and we’ve won nine. We’ll be out to win both at home and away against Bayern. Our approach is clear.
‘Guardiola is the best because he has won so many titles, because of the way he did it and because he has adapted to another country with a very difficult language. He has also implanted his ideas.’
As if Guardiola’s return was not exciting enough, yesterday’s draw opens up the possibility of a first ever Barcelona v Real Madrid final on June 6. Carlo Ancelotti’s side overcame city rivals Atletico to secure a fifth successive semi-final appearance, where Juventus will look to halt their quest to become the first side to retain the Champions League.
Italy’s ‘Old Lady’ have the best record of all the semi-finalists, having progressed to the final on seven of their 10 appearances at this juncture — although they haven’t won the trophy since 1996.
‘At this stage of the competition, all of the sides are difficult,’ former Juventus boss Ancelotti said. ‘Juventus is a club that have a legendary history and it is returning to a semi-final after 12 years.
‘They are having a very good season and have practically won Serie A. That means they can focus more on the Champions League.
‘We are confident that we can follow our dream, which is to reach another final after last year.
‘We need Real Madrid to be at their best to win, we need the same side that played against Atletico, with the same enthusiasm and hope. We have a l ot of confidence.’