Pep wants a win for the ages
Speaking for the last time before what many believe could be a Wembley classic tonight , Guardiola once again rubbished suggestions Barca were already the greatest club side of all time.
But he admitted lifting a third European Cup in six years playing the way they can could lead to his team being looked back upon in the same way as the great Real Madrid side of the 1950s and 60s, the Ajax team of the 70s and the AC Milan side of the 80s.
“If some guys remember this team, the people who are playing right now, for us that will be a huge success,” he said.
“If they talk in good terms, saying, ‘One time, I saw this team and this team played good’, we are glad.
“To think we’re the best team ever, it’s impossible, it’s not true.”
He added: “You need time to go by for people to judge you.
“It’s like films. It’s only with the passage of time that you know what is a great film.”
Barca have been installed as firm favourites against the side they beat comfortably in the final in Rome two years ago.
But Guardiola claimed the Catalans would lose if they merely repeated that performance tonight.
“If we play as we did in Rome, this time we won’t win,” he said.
“We played worse in Rome than we wanted to. We need to play much better than in 2009 and this is the thing I’ve told my players over the past few days.”
Guardiola has already decided upon his starting XI, confirming both captain Carles Puyol and fellow defender Eric Abidal were fit if selected.
“There are obviously factors, variables,” he added.
“Ferguson said there were four or five different teams he could play.
“That shows how much talent is in that team.
“Strong points, they’ve got a lot of them. Weak points, they’ve got a lot of them too.”
He added: “I’m worried about everything. Manchester United worries me.
“They have fantastic players, they’re powerful, one of the most complete teams I’ve seen in all senses.”
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