Match Highlights
We have translated quotes by Josep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Iker Casillas, Xavi and Eric Abidal.
Josep Guardiola of FC Barcelona:
Reuters Pictures Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona heads home the first goal.
"Lo importante es que veníamos con la idea de hacer gol y marcar fuera es importante. Nos hemos repuesto bien del gol de Cristiano. Volver a ganar siempre es bueno, pero sólo se ha jugado la mitad de la eliminatoria y el Madrid siempre es capaz de todo. Ahora hay que descansar, ir a Málaga y luego jugar la vuelta".
"Cuando son jugadores del Madrid es que tienen que estar a la altura. Altintop ha hecho un buen partido. Creo que hemos hecho un buen partido, teniendo posesiones largas, evitar las pérdidas y cerrando espacios. Cada uno tiene sus virtudes y al final se decide por detalles. Casi nunca hacemos un gol de córner directo y hoy, ante un equipo poderoso en este aspecto, lo hemos hecho. También quiero felicitar a Alexis por el coraje con el que ha jugado. Ha estado fantástico". {Marca}
"The important thing was that we won with the idea to score goals and to score away is important. We replied well to the goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. It's always good to return winning, but only half of the tie has been played and Real Madrid is always capable of everything. Now, we need to rest, go to Malaga and then play the return leg (next Wednesday at Camp Nou)."
"When there are Madrid players, you have to be at the highest level. Altintop had a good game. I believe that we played a good game, holding the ball for long periods, avoiding losing possession and closing down space. Each one has his own virtues and at the end of the day, details decide. We almost never score from a corner kick and today, against a strong team in this aspect, we did it. I also want to congratulate Alexis Sanchez for the courage in which he played. He has been fantastic."
On Pepe's Stamp on Messi:
"Se ha visto por televisión. Yo no lo he visto, sinceramente".
"You saw it on television. I truly didn't see it."Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid:
“Entiendo al madridismo, pero no escucho, ni antes ni después. La responsablidad es mía, por mi equipo y principalmente cuando pierde. La victoria tiene muchos padres, la derrota solo uno. Después de tanto tiempo en el fútbol, lo entiendo perfectamente. En la final de Copa lo celebramos todos y ahora lo acepto también como cosas del fútbol. Dejen a los jugadores tranquilos, porque el culpable soy yo”.
“Los dos jugaron muy bien. Y gente que normalmente lo hace muy bien, hoy no lo han hecho. No hemos perdido el partido por culpa de ellos. Estoy defendiendo a los jugadores porque han estado bien en un partido muy difìcil de jugar y sin ningún miedo. Carvalho es Carvalho y sabía que podía contar con él”. Respecto a la violenta actuación de Pepe durante el encuentro, aseguró que “no he visto nada, tengo que verlo, Ha trabajado muy bien para el equipo, no sé si ha pasado alguna cosa con él sobre el campo. Si ha habido alguna acción intencionada, sí es censurable”.{Diario Sport}
"Lo que no buscaba era recibir un gol a balón parado en el inicio de la segunda parte. Esperábamos un Barça más dominador y nos ha marcado a balón parado. Así no se puede ganarle". {Marca}
"I understand the Real Madrid style (what it is to be a Madrid fan) but I don't hear it, either before or after. The responsibility is mine, for my team and most of all, when we lose. A victory has many fathers but defeat, only one. After a great deal of time in football, I understand perfectly. At the Copa del Rey final, we all celebrated and now I accept also how things are in football. Leave the players in peace because the guilty party is I.
"Altintop and Carvalho played very well. And players who normally play well, didn't do so today. We didn't lose the game due to them. I'm defending the players because they were good in a game that is very difficult to play and without any fear. Carvalho is Carvalho and I knew that I could count on him."
With respect to the violent action of Pepe during the game, he assured, "I didn't see anything. I'll have to watch it. He worked very well for the team. I don't know if something happened to him on the pitch. If he did something intentional, yes, it's punishable."
"What I wasn't looking for was to concede a goal off a set play at the beginning of the second half. We had expected a more dominating Barcelona and they scored on us off of a set piece. You can't beat them this way."
Iker Casillas of Real Madrid:
Reuters Pictures Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Real Madrid.
"Hemos empezado bien, con la portería a cero. Pero en la segunda parte, a balón parado, parece que últimamente nos cuesta defender esas acciones y hemos encajado el gol. No nos tienen comida la moral. Nosotros tenemos nuestras armas, ellos juegan a su manera, hay que felicitarles. Nuestro objetivo es competir contra ellos y contra todos". {Marca}
"We started out well by shutting them out. But in the second half, on set pieces, it seems that ultimately it costs us to defend against these plays and we conceded a goal. They didn't take away our morale. We have our own strengths, they play in their own way and you have to congratulate them. Our objective is to compete against them and against everyone else".
Xavi of FC Barcelona:
"Son entradas bruscas y lamentables". {Marca}
"They were abrupt and disappointing challenges."
Eric Abidal of FC Barcelona:
Getty ImagesEric Abidal of FC Barcelona scores the winner with a rare goal.
(Only his fourth career goal according to @MisterChip today.)
"Esta música nos gusta mucho. Yo soy un jugador de Copa, en Francia solo marqué en esta competición y aquí también. Los clásicos siempre son partidos diferentes y complicados. Ellos intentan siempre ganar y nosotros también y tenemos que seguir así porque la Copa es importante. El Madrid salió con la presión alta como siempre, pero nosotros hemos jugado nuestro juego, con dificultad en la primera parte, pero en la segunda hemos jugado muy bien".{Marca}
"This music pleases us. I'm a player of the Cups. In France, I have only scored in this competition and here as well. The Clasicos are always different and tough games. They always try to win and so do we. We have to follow up like this because the Cup is important.
Real Madrid came out pressing high like always. But we played our game, with difficulty in the first half. But in the second half, we played very well."
Spanish source of quotes: Marca and Diario Sport, 18 January 2012.
- North American El Clasico Coverage
- ASK KAKA' by adidas in Washington, D.C.
- FC Barcelona: The Best Team in the World by Adam Howard
- Part 1: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "
- Part 2: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "
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