.png)
2 months ago
20 ARTICLE AD
Barcelona will lock horns with Premier League champions Manchester City in their first pre-season friendly of the summer in the USA.
Having gotten the better of UE Olot narrowly back in Catalonia, Barça will be hoping to pick up another win as they continue preparations for their first season under new manager Hansi Flick.
Tonight’s game against Man City pits Barcelona against their former manager and club legend Pep Guardiola, who had nothing but good to say about the Blaugrana and their players.
Guardiola praises Yamal, La Masia
Lamine Yamal has been grabbing the headlines in Europe over the past couple of months after having helped Spain win the UEFA Euro 2024, which even earned him the Young Player of the Tournament honour.
And Guardiola had words of praise for the 17-year-old, who is not part of the pre-season tour as he has been given an extended break.
“Rodri always tells me wonderful things about Lamine Yamal. He is extraordinary,” said Guardiola.
“Lamine? If Xavi gave him his debut, it’s for a reason. But I’m sure he’ll have ups and downs, he should be calm because he has a lot of race ahead of him,” he added.
Guardiola then hailed the impact and influence of La Masia on Barcelona, stating: “La Masia never fails. This generation I don’t know what their parents have given them, but they go like planes.
“Cubarsi, Pedri, Balde, Lamine… The base has always been them and signing great players from outside.”
On Laporta and Flick
Guardiola will face Barcelona tonight. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)Guardiola first took charge of Barcelona when Joan Laporta was president of the club back in 2008 and led the team to great success.
When asked what Laporta’s current run as club president is lacking to be as successful as the past, he replied:
“I’m not there and I don’t know. Believe me, if I knew, I would call the president and tell him. I’m very far away and I’ve been out for a long time.”
On being asked which current Barcelona player he would like to sign for Man City, Guardiola said: “They are too good. They are not for sale. The president told me. And I don’t say it with irony.”
Guardiola also wished good luck to Barça new manager Hansi Flick, saying: “I hope for the best. He is an exceptional person. His team is the only one that dominated from top to bottom. It was a domineering Bayern.
“I saw him one day and I wished him all the best. I hope everything goes well. Barça’s potential will always be there.”
Guardiola also insisted that it was always a privilege for him to face Barcelona, stating: “For me it’s always special to play against Barça. It’s the club of my life. I don’t care if it’s a friendly. It’s always an honour for me to play against them.”
The Manchester City manager also had good words for his former ward and Barcelona attacking spearhead Robert Lewandowski, as he said:
“Lewandowski is a fantastic player. I had him and I know perfectly well what he is capable of doing on a pitch. He scored four goals in ten minutes in a game.”
Source: X/Victor Navarro
