Guardiola leaps to Busquets' defense
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2011, Sunday
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BARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola gave his backing to Sergio Busquets yesterday, saying he believed the midfielder's denial that he had racially abused Real Madrid fullback Marcelo.
Guardiola is concerned Busquets may miss the Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley on May 28 after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him.
The Spain international could face a five-match ban if found guilty of abusing Marcelo in last month's ill-tempered Champions League semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
"All I would say is that I have known Sergio for a long time and if he tells me something I believe him because I know him," Guardiola said at a news conference ahead of today's La Liga match at home to Deportivo la Coruna.
"Only Marcelo and 'Busi' know what happened," he added. "Of course we are worried and waiting for the decision. Hopefully he will be able to play in the final."
UEFA said in a statement on Thursday its Control and Disciplinary Body would hear the case today and a decision would be relayed to the club tomorrow.
Guardiola brought Busquets into the first team when he took over at the start of the 2008-09 season. Since then, Busquets has been a regular and helped the club to nine major trophies in nearly three seasons. He also helped Spain win its first World Cup last summer.
"I hope he plays it (on May 28) because he is an important player for us and because he deserves to," Guardiola said.
Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa said last week Busquets had denied twice calling Marcelo a monkey, or in Spanish "mono."
What television images of Busquets addressing the Brazilian showed was him saying Marcelo had a lot of nerve, or "mucho morro," Freixa said.
"When the footage started coming out on You Tube we spoke to the player and he said the accusations were false," he added. "He did not say what Real Madrid said in its complaint."
Real appeared to distance itself from the allegations as it said in a statement on its website that it did not include Busquets in its original complaint to UEFA after the game.
Guardiola said his team should reach the final in perfect playing condition after clinching its third straight league title last Wednesday.
"I'm happy for the players," Guardiola said, a day after the team celebrated its 21st domestic cup with fans at the Camp Nou following an open top bus tour through the city.
Barcelona beat United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.
(Agencies)
Guardiola is concerned Busquets may miss the Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley on May 28 after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him.
The Spain international could face a five-match ban if found guilty of abusing Marcelo in last month's ill-tempered Champions League semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
"All I would say is that I have known Sergio for a long time and if he tells me something I believe him because I know him," Guardiola said at a news conference ahead of today's La Liga match at home to Deportivo la Coruna.
"Only Marcelo and 'Busi' know what happened," he added. "Of course we are worried and waiting for the decision. Hopefully he will be able to play in the final."
UEFA said in a statement on Thursday its Control and Disciplinary Body would hear the case today and a decision would be relayed to the club tomorrow.
Guardiola brought Busquets into the first team when he took over at the start of the 2008-09 season. Since then, Busquets has been a regular and helped the club to nine major trophies in nearly three seasons. He also helped Spain win its first World Cup last summer.
"I hope he plays it (on May 28) because he is an important player for us and because he deserves to," Guardiola said.
Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa said last week Busquets had denied twice calling Marcelo a monkey, or in Spanish "mono."
What television images of Busquets addressing the Brazilian showed was him saying Marcelo had a lot of nerve, or "mucho morro," Freixa said.
"When the footage started coming out on You Tube we spoke to the player and he said the accusations were false," he added. "He did not say what Real Madrid said in its complaint."
Real appeared to distance itself from the allegations as it said in a statement on its website that it did not include Busquets in its original complaint to UEFA after the game.
Guardiola said his team should reach the final in perfect playing condition after clinching its third straight league title last Wednesday.
"I'm happy for the players," Guardiola said, a day after the team celebrated its 21st domestic cup with fans at the Camp Nou following an open top bus tour through the city.
Barcelona beat United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.
(Agencies)
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