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Barcelona's Javier Mascherano: We were very superior to Real Madrid in the Clasico
The Argentina international believes his side deserved to take the three points against the Spanish capital club and praised the Catalan's fighting spirit to turn the score around
13 Dec 2011 15:04:00
By Luis Mira
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano says the Blaugrana's 3-1 victory against Real Madrid in Saturday's Clasico was fully deserved.
The Catalan club found themselves on the back foot in the first minute of the match, following a Karim Benzema finish, but strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas either side of an own goal from Marcelo gave Pep Guardiola's side the three points.
Mascherano dismissed the notion that Barca had luck on their side and hailed his team's fighting spirit.
"Luck? I was on the bench and I saw a very different match, I saw a very superior Barca," he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"We suffered a goal 30 seconds in and we never gave up on playing our game."
The Argentina international then noted that he was not upset with being on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu, insisting that if the Catalan's first-choice defenders are available, they must start.
"[Gerard] Pique and [Carles] Puyol are the two starting central defenders," Mascherano explained. "If they are fit, they have to play."
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The Catalan club found themselves on the back foot in the first minute of the match, following a Karim Benzema finish, but strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas either side of an own goal from Marcelo gave Pep Guardiola's side the three points.
Mascherano dismissed the notion that Barca had luck on their side and hailed his team's fighting spirit.
"Luck? I was on the bench and I saw a very different match, I saw a very superior Barca," he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"We suffered a goal 30 seconds in and we never gave up on playing our game."
The Argentina international then noted that he was not upset with being on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu, insisting that if the Catalan's first-choice defenders are available, they must start.
"[Gerard] Pique and [Carles] Puyol are the two starting central defenders," Mascherano explained. "If they are fit, they have to play."
Starting last month and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World. The most recent extract detailed how Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid have closed the gap on Barca following a period of Catalan dominance.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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