A Fitting Stage for the Anticipated Reunion
There
couldn't have been a better setting for Pep Guardiola and Barcelona's
reunion. Bayern's coach and his squad is set to visit his former team
for the first leg of their semi final clash at Camp Nou. This would be
the Catalan's much-awaited homecoming after leaving the club in 2011.
Pep
is glad to be back at Barcelona but is determined to end his successful
season with a chance to lift the Champions League trophy in Berlin.
Since managing the German team, they have won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal,
UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club Wolrd Cup. He will be facing his erstwhile
ward, Lionel Messi who he have won 14 trophies with in their four years
together.
“I have kept everything I learned with him,” Messi told a group of reporters in his first press conference in almost two years.
“His
era was very important,” the three-time FIFA Ballon d'Or recipient
added. “As well as the titles we won I really grew a lot and I want to
keep winning things for the club. I have tried to keep growing as I
always did.”
Barca's
president Josep Maria Bartomeu also recognized Guardiola's comeback.
However, he quickly downplayed its importance. "It is necessary to
honour Pep and I believe it has to be spontaneous. We won't organise
anything. There'll be no video or anything.
"He comes with all the honours but also to win. After the game we can salute him.
"I
believe the relationship between Guardiola and the board ended well.
The doors of Barca are open when he wants to come back. I think he will
one day."
The
Blaugranes will be facing the Germans in almost perfect health except
for Jeremy Mathieu who is with a sore Achilles' tendon. But, the other
side is facing a completely different scenario. Injury-stricken Bayern
will be missing defenders Holger Badstuber and David Alaba, midfielders
Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, and Sebastian Rode, and goal keeper Tom
Starke.
The
bigger question is, will striker Robert Lewandowski be able to risk it
with a mask on? Can he play despite the concussion and facial injuries
he received from their game against Borussia Dortmund?
Find out on May 7, 02:45 (GMT+8)
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