Road accident deaths drop by 50% in Saudi Arabia    SR 3.95 million fines for 3 employees of a company and 6-month jail for one for violating Capital Market Law    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    Italy's 'Libra' to arrive in Albania with just eight migrants on board    South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest    French families sue TikTok over harmful content that allegedly led to suicides    Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Guardiola blocking Real path to glory
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 04 - 2014

MADRID — The last thing Real Madrid wanted was another Champions League semifinal clash against Bayern Munich and Wednesday it will need to get the better of a familiar foe who very much appears to have its number.
Pep Guardiola, whose Bayern side plays its last four, first leg at the Bernabeu, was appointed as coach of the German champion at the end of last season after taking a year out to recover from a trophy-laden but draining four years in charge of Real's arch-rival Barcelona.
During his time as a Barca player and coach, Guardiola seldom tasted defeat against the Madrid club and his all-conquering team dispatched Real in the last four of Europe's elite club competition in 2010-11 before going on to win the final against Manchester United.
His coaching record against Real was an impressive nine wins, four draws and two defeats, while as a player in 14 La Liga meetings he won six, drew five and lost only three.
Despite having the statistics firmly on his side, Guardiola is too wily to take Real lightly and he will know how desperate the Spaniards are to win the record-extending 10th European crown it has been chasing since its last continental triumph in 2002.
It will also be itching to avenge its last-four reverse to Bayern in the 2011-12 season, when the German side went through on penalties after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate but lost to Chelsea in the final.
“Every time I have gone to the Bernabeu, as a player and as a coach, I have never in my head gone there as the favorite,” Guardiola was quoted as saying in Spanish sports daily Marca Saturday.
“I have too much respect for them,” added the 43-year-old, whose Bayern side has already wrapped up another Bundesliga title and is still in with a chance of repeating last season's treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
“Madrid deserve a lot of respect for all their history. They are always a strong team whoever is the coach because they have a lot behind them: great players, fans and a great history.”
Guardiola conceded that his players had gone off the boil in the Bundesliga since winning the title last month.
Real, fresh from beating Barca in Wednesday's King's Cup final and still in the fight for La Liga, may have something of an edge, he added.
“Yes Madrid have a certain advantage in that respect,” Guardiola, whose side has lost twice and drawn once in four outings since securing the Bundesliga, told Marca.
“We won the league much earlier and that meant our rhythm dropped a little but we will try to get back to our level as soon as possible. “But that's a normal thing because we were playing league games with nothing at stake.
“Madrid's enthusiasm will be greater than ours right now after winning the Cup final but we will try to be competitive at the Bernabeu.”
Guardiola's Real counterpart Carlo Ancelotti, in his first season in charge, is waiting on the fitness of top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who has missed the last four matches due to knee and muscle problems in his left leg.
The Portugal captain, the leading marksman also in La Liga this term, has been training hard this week, suggesting he should be able to play a part Wednesday.
The return leg is in Munich next week and the winner of the tie will play Atletico Madrid or Chelsea in the final in Lisbon on May 24. — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.