Guardiola applauds Barca’s desire in Super Cup win

After a 5-4 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in a hard-fought Super

Cup, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted that he was surprised at

the quality of the football so early in the season but was

disappointed with the angry scenes at the end of the game.

Following a low key build up to the season with an emphasis on rest,

Barca were less prepared for the Spanish curtain raiser but after a

2-2 victory at the Bernabeu they were favourites to lift the trophy

with the deciding leg at home.

Against the run of play Andres Iniesta put Barca ahead with a deft

finish before Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal in a Real Madrid

shirt to equalise.

Messi, though, was the key player as he scored at the end of the first

half and again three minutes from the end with Karim Benzema finding

the back of the net in between.

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas made his debut for Barca coming

on towards the end of the game that ended in a brawl after Marcelo was

dismissed for a late challenge. David Villa and Mesut Ozil were also

red carded in angry exchanges.

“The key was the good result in the first leg and we put in an

incredible effort as we were a long way from being at our best. Xavi

(Hernandez) has trained little and (Lionel) was not at his best. To

compete and do so well against a team which is so strong has a lot of

merit. Beforehand I didn’t think that we were capable of winning and

so I have to congratulate the players for their character,” said

Guardiola.

“This was a game against two of Europe’s top sides and to produce this

level in August is outstanding. We have still not found our form yet

though and we need to be more competitive and stronger.”

Real coach Jose Mourinho was seen to poke Guardiola’s assistant Tito

Vilanova in the eye during the fracas at the end of the game and the

Barca coach admitted the scenes were unacceptable.

“The images speak for themselves and I don’t know why they react like

that. I had a feeling that the game would end that way but I am happy

with my players and that I was able to keep them under control.

Meanwhile, Mourinho believed the Catalan club deliberately wasted time

but like Guardiola felt there was little between the teams.

“It was a fantastic match from the first minute and I can’t say

anything more. However, from the start of the second half, and there

are people who do this, the ballboys disappeared. This usually happens

with small teams who are in difficulties,” he said.

“If we said we were happy at not wining the trophy we would be

hypocrites. It is a minor trophy but we are not happy at failing to

win it. However, I am pleased with the way the team is performing. We

did very well in the two games.

“So far in all my teams we have been better in the second half of the

season and so far during the preseason and in these two matches we

have shown we are in a better state than a year ago.”

After giving summer signing Alexis Sanchez his debut at the Bernabeu,

Guardiola reverted to the side that won the

Champions League last spring against Manchester United, with Pedro

Rodriguez winning his place back in attack while Gerard Pique, Xavi

and Sergio Busquets also returned.

The main surprise was in the Real side where Fabio Coentrao started

the game ahead of Marcelo at left back after an impressive debut in

the first leg playing in midfield where he gave extra zest to

Mourinho’s side.

As in the first game, Real had more possession and posed a greater

threat in the opening stages. Ronaldo had a shot turned behind for a

corner as early as the first minute but Barcelona even when not

playing well as a team have the players with the individual skills to

change the course of the game.

Shortly after Messi just failed to get onto a Pedro cross, the

Argentine sliced open the Madrid defence for Iniesta who clipped the

ball over the outrushing keeper Iker Casillas.

Real refused to let their heads drop and Angel Di Maria was posing the

main danger down the right wing with Ronaldo getting little change

from Dani Alves on the other side.

It was the Portuguese who brought Real level though as a deflected

Benzema shot appeared to take a final touch off Ronaldo as it wrong

footed keeper Victor Valdes.

Real continued to have more of the ball and Ronaldo was inches away

from putting them ahead when his drive from the edge of the area was

parried by Valdes onto the crossbar.

Ozil then should have done better when his weak strike was comfortably

blocked by the Barca keeper.

At the same time whenever Barca got the ball in attack they looked

dangerous and Messi restored their lead a minute before the break.

Pique back-heeled the ball into his path and Messi dinked the ball

over Casillas.

Marcelo who came on for the second half appeared to kick out at Messi

and there were angry exchanges between several of the players.

The quality of the game deteriorated notably as Barcelona lacked their

normal fluidity and more and more niggly challenges took place as Real

became frustrated. Messi, having only just returned to training after

a belated break

following the Copa America, was not his cheerful self but still was

Barca’s main danger as he forced Casillas into a low save.

Finally Fabregas was given his bow in front of the home fans with

Pedro making way.

Defender Sergio Ramos had a golden opportunity to head Real level

before Benzema finally scrambled the ball home in the area.

The game looked to be heading for extra-time when Messi pounced to

fire home an Adriano cross.

In stoppage time a reckless challenge from Marcelo on Fabregas sparked

a bust-up on the touchline that led to Villa and Ozil also receiving

red cards as well as the Brazilian.

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