Barca throws in the towel
- by Soccer America , Apr 22, 2012
[EL CLASICO SOUND OFF] Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, the "Special One," was the silent one after the Merengues' 2-1
win at Barcelona, but his opposite number, Barca coach Pep Guardiola, conceded La Liga title to Real Madrid. Guardiola was also forced to defend his tactics
that came in for criticism from the Catalan press.
"I congratulate Real for the victory and for the league title they have won."
--
Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola, conceding La Liga title to Real Madrid.
"I
do not think we’ve been inferior to Madrid. Except the two goals, (Barcelona goalkeeper Victor] Valdes has had little work."
-- Guardiola
with his take on the game.
“I selected the team which I thought had the best chance to defeat Madrid and, anyway, the losers are always wrong."
-- Guardiola, defending his decision to start the game with Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas on the bench.
“The league has escaped us. There are many points [to make up] and few games left."
-- Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta also accepting defeat to Real.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player and must continue performing like this. We are accustomed to seeing him give
great performances. He scored the goal that gave us the Copa del Rey title last year. He is the best player in the world."
-- Real assistant coach
Aitor Karanka praising Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the
winning goal in the 72nd minute. (Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho does not speak to the press
after La Liga matches.)
“It was an important goal but the win for the team is more important, we have four matches left and with the seven-point gap [over Barcelona] we are
in a comfortable position."
-- Cristiano Ronaldo on his goal, the 42nd league goal of the season for Real Madrid and 54th in all competitions.
Hala Madrid! Barca continues to be a great squad and AC ,Chelsea and Madrid now having demonstrated how to play them in order to have success. It is a testament to them that teams need to devise tactics to stop them. Any team that thinks they can play them otherwise is fooling themselves. That being said Madrid has the makings of the next great team..This all from a true Madridista. Hala Madrid!
Strong, solid performances from Casillas, Coentrao, Xabi Alonso, Khedira, and Ozil. They alone shut down the Barcelona attack. But it is what it was. Now it's a brand new day. And you're only as good as your last play.