FC Barcelona and FC Porto are arguably the two hottest teams in Europe right now. Porto went through an unbeaten run last season and they are keen to put the icing on the cake by stunning UEFA Champions League holders Barcelona in Monaco on Friday night.
The match at the Stade Louis II will certainly not lack excitement with stars like Hulk, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez expected to deliver a great show. Below, we preview the 2011 UEFA Super Cup’s Barcelona vs FC Porto match in quotes. What have the Catalans and the Dragons been saying?
How prepared are Pep Guardiola’s men? How confident are Porto following the departure of some their key men in the form of striker Radamel Falcao and Andre Villas-Boas? Note that Chelsea target Alvaro Pereira has also been left out from the squad of Porto’s new coach Vitor Pereira.
However, Barcelona also have absentees with Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique out through injury. There eventually seems to be a bigger chance for FC Porto to embarrass Barcelona’s defense like Real Madrid did in the two-legged Supercopa de España tie by netting 4 goals in total.
But with players like 2009 UEFA Super Cup match hero Pedro Rodriguez and crowned 2011 UEFA Player of the Year Award winner Lionel Messi, there’s a reason for Barcelona supporters to remain confident about a victory.
Below is a recap of what both camps are thinking ahead of Friday night’s showdown in Monaco. There are 10 different quotes coming from key figures like Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas and Pep Guardiola, FC Porto’s Hulk and Vitor Pereira.
FC Porto coach Vitor Pereira about Barcelona at a press conference:
“Barcelona are the best team I have seen in my lifetime. However, we're here [in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup] on our own merit following a great season.”
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas about FC Porto’s form and play on the club’s website:
“I think they [Porto] have a similar style to our own. They like to hold onto the ball and don’t try to play long balls.
“They play well and it will be very hard. We know they won everything last year [the Portuguese Liga, the Portuguese Cup and the 2011 UEFA Europa League].
“They scored five goals against Villarreal in 45 minutes [en route to European glory], which shows how dangerous they are up front.”
FC Porto coach Vitor Pereira about Porto’s boldness at a press conference:
“We know Barcelona are a great team, but we are not here to see them play. We came here to win this game, so we have the ingredients for a great spectacle. You will see our own game plan and identity; it won’t be about adapting to your opponent.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola about the match at a press conference:
“We are not invincible and someone could beat us. We will play the final with the intention of winning it. It is an excellent final and Porto are a very, very, very strong team.”
FC Porto attacker Hulk about a prospective defeat to UEFA.com:
“We have already won the Portuguese Supercup and now we'll try to do the same in Monaco, but if things don't go our way we'll just have to raise our heads and keep on working. That's football.”
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas about his participation in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup on the club’s website:
“This is my first trip away with the team and I’m happy to form part of this great squad. Until now, they have treated me very well. I don’t know if we’ll win or lose, but with this team we can go all the way.”
FC Porto coach Vitor Pereira about Lionel Messi at a press conference:
“You cann
ot stop Messi with any special tactic. You have to stop him with a strong team performance.
“That is, by concentrating defensively, covering each other and anticipating intentions.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola about Barcelona’s ambition at a press conference:
“In sport the most important thing is the next game and we have to focus on this. […] Porto have a similar style to us and so it will be a difficult game because they won it all last year.”
FC Porto attacker Hulk about Porto’s aim to UEFA.com:
“My team-mates and I couldn't be more motivated for the match against Barcelona, undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world, and we will do everything in our power to bring the trophy back to Portugal.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola about Barcelona’s confidence at a press conference:
“We are better than we were ten days ago but poorer than we will be ten days from now. You can’t expect to be at your peak at this stage because there’s a lot of competition ahead.
“If we were able to overcome such a tough test as Madrid [in the Spanish Super Cup] then we have to go into [the Porto] match believing we can win it.”
And what have you been saying?
