Pep and Mourinho press conferences before the cdr game

[Wolfe]

Mourinho: Best result? Going through is the best.



About injured players

Tomorrow it will be a great game, not a summer circuit, which is why I want to field the best players. Di Maria will be among the selected ones, but not everything is as we'd want it to be. We will wait.
As for Carvalho it's possible and necessary for him to play in January. Ramos and Lass have 4 yellow cards already and many players have 3 yellows like Pepe, Arbeloa or Fabio. We're starting the second half of the competition with many players who have 3 or 4 cards. I said that already a couple of weeks ago that Ricardo will be back, because we will need him.

On trophy priorities

Championship is the priority. I will not change my tone. But even if it was a summer circuit game or a friendly, I want to win this match. Copa Del Rey is the third most important goal, but it's also tomorrow's game. What's a priority today will be the priority tomorrow. We are not playing in the Champions League or the league, but in Copa and nobody is playing to lose. Whoever loses two games will have two games less in February with the league and Champions League, and will have a calendar advantage, but we are not hypocrites: we want to have two matches more and so does Barcelona, I think.

On the best outcome and Barcelona

What would be the best result? I want to advance to the next stage. It would be the best result. You can lose at home and win away. You never know. It's a different fixture than last season. They will have pretty much the same players, we won't and we are different in comparison to those games. We have 4 or 5 new players, but this doesn't matter. I don't know how they will play, they are a great team playing 3, 4 or 10 defenders. They are a great team in every possible setup. We respect them. Our relationships with Guardiola and Barca? I don't and I never held anything against them.

Who is the favourite? Barcelona won here a couple of weeks ago.

[when asked "Are you playing for your own prestige?"]
How many more trophies do I have to win in order to not play for my career? How many? Tell me. In every match I risk my own mood, being happy or miserable on the next day, nothing more.

On match tactics

I will not tell you my setup. I don't know it and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. Maybe there will be 3 or 4 changes. If Ramos plays as RB, they will criticise me because he is better in the center. If Coentrao plays on the right they'll criticise, because he is left footed. If Lass plays they'll say that in Khedira's absence he is needed in the center of midfield. If Pepe plays as a CB they'll say he needs to play in midfield and if he plays in midfield they'll say he is better as a defender. Same thing if Benzema plays instead of Higuain who scored against Mallorca. If I'll play 3 midfielders they'll criticise because I should attack. If I'll play offensive they'll say I should put more people in the midfield. It's better to go to the cinema tomorrow night and look up the score later on and discuss.

On Cristiano Ronaldo

As for Cristiano, I'm with him for 1.5 year and he scored many goals. One of them gave us a trophy. He showed off with many hattricks. But he was at his best in the second half against Mallorca. I was proud of him. He didn't play well, he wasn't the best, he didn't go on the covers, but he worked like a horse, he was making interceptions, he worked in defence and finished the game physically dead. I will not let anyone touch him if he plays like that. And if anyone wants to do so we will have a problem, because I will not allow it. He did everything for the team. I told him he was fantastic. Working like he did, he doesn't have to be the man of the match, he doesn't have to score. He is just one of our 11 players on the pitch, one of the 21 in the squad. When he loses, he is responsible, just like when he wins. Team is the most important and I told him that when he works like he did, he doesn't need goals.

[Wolfe]

On playing at Bernabeu and recent form

I have always thought that going out cautiously on Bernabeu means waiting for things to happen. Teams who wait for things to happen at this stadium end up losing goals. The only way to get a good result and keep hold of the tie is going out to win, working the ball, playing on a certain level, but maintaining good setup and formation in order to avoid counter attacks.
Right from the beginning I thought about allowing Pinto play. He deserves it. He's an excellent goalkeeper and if he would not play I would betray myself. And him. I don't think people who know him will doubt him in any way. We surely are not doing so and those who watched him in latest years know that he plays on a very high level.

In Barcelona vs Real Madrid matches it is not important what you've done. What's important is what you're doing at the moment. And we are playing against the strongest opponent who we can meet in any competition. They are the league leaders who gathered most points in the Champions League... Real Madrid are always a threat. To me they are in a good form and they're playing very well. I'm not saying this to weaken them. I have always stated this. To me their form doesn't matter, because they are a team with soul. That's what I feel. Titles which we won this season don't give us any advantage. In sport there is no precedents. Tomorrow is a new day and 90,000 people will come supporting The Blancos. You have to start over. That's what's beautiful. This job makes sense, because it gives you passion.

On Copa Del Rey

Mourinho said Copa Del Rey has the lowest meaning? I agree. La Liga is most important, Champions League the most beautiful and Copa Del Rey has the lowest meaning. But neither us nor them will give this tie up. Whoever is eliminated will be touched, because they will be out of the competition.

Do I feel like a favourite? Again I stress this, we are not favourites because of our latest wins. What do they give us? What's going to happen if tomorrow we will have a worse night and they'll win? I never feel like a favourite before the game, because I don't need to. Ever. Why? Por que? [after this statement Pep fell silent for a while and said "Ah, what words.." and the room burst out laughing]

On refereeing

Xavi's statements about referees? Madrid media defend Real Madrid and ones from Barcelona defend Barcelona. I'm not making up dust. Job of the referees and the linesmen is tough. They don't want to be in the wrong just as I don't want to be in the wrong in front of this many people, but football is getting faster. My players can say whatever they want, but I have never said anything about the referees in the locker room. Of course I am livid when they're in the wrong, but I can't do anything about it and I can only try to be better myself. If I see that anything from the outside influences my work, I would leave.

On unpredictability

People think they know what the managers are going to do, if they know them long enough. That's supposedly how it is with Mourinho, but he played a line in the midfield in our first meeting, in the second season he played a diamond, he played differently in one of the games in the Champions League semifinal and differently in another. He used trivote as well, he used 4-2-3-1... Tomorrow he may make more changes. We will try to match them. Whether it is 5th or 10th minute, we will see what they came up with and they'll see what we came up with. There are many possibilities. Real may press on in attack and play intensively, but they may also wait in the back line and try to counter. That's why they are a team they are. Always, whenever we play against Real, even if we're winning, they cause us much trouble.

Good attack is the key, everyone must have their position. We have to have a greater control over the game. You know exactly what I think about defence and attack. I don't wonder whether defending with 3 men is better or worse, but that we shouldn't lose the ball in attack. I knew that after worse games with 3 men there will be one, great debate. Playing 3, 4 or 5, they all have their weaknesses. Every coach looks for the winning formula.

[One of the journalists asked the same question Mourinho received]: "Are playing for your own prestige in this game?" Pep answered: I have a lot to lose. In sport there is no benefits of the doubt. So far I managed to do well, but I always have to go back to winning. You can't allow yourself to lose by 4 goals if you won the game before.

What am I worried about most? Whether my players will believe that my way is the good way.

On tactics and teams' situation

Set pieces and tactic? Good one was down at Wembley when Manchester had many more free kicks from the side rather than corners. Tactic will be similar as always. It's normal that many teams try to counter us, because that's the way it has to be when we have 75% possession. I'd rather lose that way than without having the ball. If this happens then it will mean we didn't do something well enough and not that something isn't functioning. We know that Real is the best counter attacking team, but we'll try to stop them.

Narrow bench? Maybe my players will be jagged by the end of season. But it's not that bad. Pedro will be back shortly and he'll help us. I'm not planning how we will look like in 3 months. I learned that in this job you live in the moment. Players have to rest a lot and then give everything on the pitch until they can't any longer. However, they're strong and used to playing many games.

Alexis? We just want him not to lose his happiness, to gives us what he already has. Last match against Real was decided by the goals and by the whole of the game. It's never easy for a 22-year old to adapt after transfer. He also had 2 injuries which lengthened the process. But with the right preparation and happiness he will keep going step by step. There are things that need time. Right now we're happy with him, because he scored a lot of goals and took part in many others.

Re-signing of Abidal is great. Finding this type of player is very tough. It would take a long time to find someone like him. Putting aside the kind of man he is, he is also a great footballer. He allows many variations in defence. I congratulate the club on the efforts and congratulate Eric as well. May he stay here for a long time even after retiring so he can help the club. [in the meantime Pep confirmed Tito's presence at the bench after being asked by the journalists]

[Aryagorn]

Mourinho said Copa Del Rey has the lowest meaning? I agree. La Liga is the most important, Champions League the most beautiful and Copa Del Rey has the lowest meaning. But neither us nor them will give this tie up. Whoever is eliminated will be touched, because they will be out of the competition.

Take it CL wankers!!

[Aryagorn]

I have always thought that going out cautiously on Bernabeu means waiting for things to happen. Teams who wait for things to happen at this stadium end up losing goals. The only way to get a good result and keep hold of the tie is going out to win, working the ball, playing on a certain level, but maintaining good setup and formation in order to avoid counter attacks.

Yes, that's the way you do it man... Prepare a blue print and distribute it to the minnows. Show Mou who's the

Why? Por que? [after this statement Pep fell silent for a while and said "Ah, what words.." and the room burst out laughing][/B]

[in the meantime Pep confirmed Tito's presence at the bench after being asked by the journalists]

Welcome back man... I hope this has a good effect on our players

[Maria]

Mourinho:
[when asked "Are you playing for your own prestige?"]
How many more trophies do I have to win in order to not play for my career? How many? Tell me. In every match I risk my own mood, being happy or miserable on the next day, nothing more.

[One of the journalists asked the same question Mourinho received]: "Are playing for your own prestige in this game?"Pep answered: I have a lot to lose. In sport there is not benefits of the doubt. So far I managed to do well, but I always have to go back to winning.

[Metaphysical]

[Aryagorn]

Mourinho:
[when asked "Are you playing for your own prestige?"]
How many more trophies do I have to win in order to not play for my career? How many? Tell me. In every match I risk my own mood, being happy or miserable on the next day, nothing more.

[One of the journalists asked the same question Mourinho received]: "Are playing for your own prestige in this game?"Pep answered: I have a lot to lose. In sport there is not benefits of the doubt. So far I managed to do well, but I always have to go back to winning.

I didn't get both of them...

[Wolfe]

Tried to get the context right, but the answers were stupidly not normal.

Basically Mourinho says that he is not playing to gain prestige as a coach, because he's earned it already and that's not what he tries to achieve and Pep says he can lose prestige if he loses this tie and that no-one is going to give him a benefit of the doubt in case Mourinho outcoaches him.

[Aryagorn]

Tried to get the context right, but the answers were stupidly not normal.

Basically Mourinho says that he is not playing to gain prestige as a coach, because he's earned it already and that's not what he tries to achieve and Pep says he can lose prestige if he loses this tie and that no-one is going to give him a benefit of the doubt in case Mourinho outcoaches him.

What is it that Mou playing for then!? Definitely not for the good of the game.

Is Pep saying he hasn't achieved much yet?

[Wolfe]

Sounds like it. He didn't say anything else. He's just playing safe and modest as always.

[ViscaBarca914]

Pep...what a guy. What a legacy he will leave. Reading this got me worrying about the game for the first time lol...it's a big one despite the competition it's being played in. I have faith in the team though. Pep will show us the way lol.

[ricknattery]

Small differences between the 2 coaches:
Guardiola says that what he has won has no meaning in the present and he needs to demostrate in each game his worth. Mou says nobody can question him anymore because of his past titles....

[Catalonian Devil]

Such contrast in personalities, such contrast in coaching style.

What a rivalry

[UEFA_Barça_Chris]

Small differences between the 2 coaches:
Guardiola says that what he has won has no meaning in the present and he needs to demostrate in each game his worth. Mou says nobody can question him anymore because of his past titles....

the humble guy and the arrogant guy. Anyways I agree, It does not matter what competition we play in, the fact that it's a major rivalry game is what matters, or else neither of us would be worrying. I do so hope we win and get at least a 3 goal lead in the Bernabeu. But Mou's formation is what questions me tbh. What will be pepe's position?!?!?

[gingerless]

ultra troll