Pep Guardiola: Shakhtar are a super team, that’s why they’re in quarter-finalsApril 6, 2011 - 14:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Speaking at the pre-game press conference, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola dismissed the notion that Barca can already start planning for the last four. “If we are not at out best,” he warned, “Shakhtar will bulldoze us”. The coach of FC Barcelona as always expressed great respect for the team’s next opponent. He said that Shakhtar is “packed with good Brazilians, a very strong team that has grown over the years, getting better and better. People underestimate Shakhtar and I don’t like what I see and hear. People think we are already in the semi-finals.” He warned not to “take Shakhtar for granted. The feelings I have before the match aren’t that good: we have to remember this is the quarter-finals. Believe me when I say they are a super team: they are aggressive, work hard, play well, and have a very good coach. That’s why they’re in the quarter-finals, finished top of their group ahead of Arsenal. They have a lot of strong points and this season they have impressed me more than ever.” The Mister also underlined that “if we are not at out best, Shakhtar will bulldoze us.” At the same time, Guardiola said, “I believe in my team, though. We’re in the [Spanish] Cup final, fighting for the Liga crown and among the best eight teams in Europe, but you have to earn titles and to do that we have to play very well tomorrow.” “Every season we start off well, score loads of goals and then dip a bit at the end. Saturday’s league match against Almeria will be very tough mentally and that’s the biggest danger for us: we’re at our best when we’re stretched,” he said, totalbarca.com reported. Top stories Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. Partner news | Israel warns of “serious consequences” after Armenia recognizes Palestine Dmitry Gendelman said the move will have “serious long-term consequences” for Israel-Armenia relations. French envoy travels to Armenia’s Syunik French ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies visited the town of Goris in the country’s southern Syunik province. Actress Lala Mnatsakanyan dies aged 67 Actress Lala Mnatsakanyan has died at the age of 67, according to a statement from the YSITC. CSTO says retains obligations to Armenia The CSTO retains all obligations to Armenia, the country remains an ally of the organization, Imangali Tasmagambetov says. |