ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Pep Guardiola defends Spain's del Bosque after shock World Cup exit

Record ID: 448301

  • Title: ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Pep Guardiola defends Spain's del Bosque after shock World Cup exit
  • Date: 27th June 2014
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 26, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LUNA PARK STADIUM EXTERIOR AUDIENCE APPLAUDING PEP GUARDIOLA AS HE ENTERS NEWS CONFERENCE POSTER TO PROMOTE EVENT GUARDIOLA IS ATTENDING GUARDIOLA DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COACH AND FORMER FOOTBALLER, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "One of the most important factors for me for a group to work is t
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7FLWA0T4ATORBLT95B3R2SE1D
  • Story Text: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola held a news conference in Buenos Aires on Thursday (June 26) where he hailed Messi and defended Spain's World Cup coach after the former FIFA champion's shock exit from the tournament.
    The 42-year-old Guardiola, who won 14 trophies in four years at Barcelona, is in Argentina to give a talk at an event titled "'The World Cup in Pep's Eyes".
    With Barcelona star Lionel Messi on track to be one of the World Cup's big scorers, Guardiola revealed to media what made his former Catalan team a force to be reckoned with in Spain's Liga.
    "One of the most important factors for me for a group to work is that each person knows its role. If Messi plays in a team and another person wants to take Messi's role we fail. Everyone on the team knows that he is a step up, so if everyone accepts this than that is a huge step," he said.
    Having represented Spain over 47 times internationally, including the 1994 World Cup, Guardiola admitted his own ambitions to one day lead his own side at the FIFA tournament.
    "In this month and a half the world will be watching. I'd love to live it, hopefully someday somebody wants me to lead a national team," he added.
    The former Barcelona coach also weighed in on Spain's shock exit at the FIFA tournament that marked an ignominious end to a glittering six-year run during which the Iberian nation swept all before them to claim a debut global title and back-to-back European crowns.
    Guardiola called for embattled coach del Bosque to be given another chance with the Spanish side.
    "I think there is no better coach for Spain than Vicente del Bosque and hopefully he can continue for a long time because I think that Spain needs him a lot because he is the best that can take on this process of small changes with the new generation who can come with a lot of talent, he knows them. When he lost, it hurts the soul just like all losses, to not continue and enjoy this event but there were two (teams) that were better. It's not because Spain played badly, it's probably not at its best moment. I don't know what would have happened if Holland didn't tie at the 44th (minute of the game). In my point of view, Spain were much better than Holland in the first half," he said.
    Current Bayern Munich coach, Guardiola recently led the German side to the UEFA Super Cup and the club World Cup title. The Bavarians also broke record after record under the Spanish coach before their air of invincibility burst after securing the league title.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register