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Vilanova dismisses talk of a bust-up between Villa and Messi
Sep 23, 2012 12:40:00 AM
The Blaugrana coach has dispelled talk of a dispute between the pair and instead opted to focus on his side's perfect start to the season
| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £45.00 | Barcelona £16.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £37.50 | Barcelona £16.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £42.00 | Barcelona £15.71 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £60.00 | Draw £41.00 | Barcelona £15.30 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £40.00 | Barcelona £15.70 |
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The Catalan side were frustrated for large periods of the game and that appeared to boil over when Villa engaged in a heated debate with his team-mate after Messi failed to pass him the ball.
"There is nothing to gather [from what happened between Villa and Messi]," Vilanova stated at his post-match press conference.
"Whoever plays football knows discussions are a normality, and part of the game."
"Such occurrences are common signs that a team is alive. Not exchanging views for betterment would honestly suggest worse."
Messi also appeared on Barca TV to refute suggestions of a bust-up: "Do not look for problems where there are none. Villa and I get along very well, it was just normal banter during games."
Barca's fifth league victory in a row, courtesy of a late Xavi strike and Borja Gomez own-goal, puts the Blaugrana a massive 11 points clear of reigning Liga champions Real Madrid, although Jose Mourinho's outfit are due to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
"What was important was to make it 15 points out of 15," Vilanova continued.
"I don't feel pressure, or any obligations. I knew what would be asked of me from the start, and I dared to try my hand."
"The key tonight was scoring the first goal, which helped open up their side. We put in a great performance tonight nevertheless."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
7:29 PM BST
Right, just to explain, we have three representatives at Wembley tonight:
- Tim Rohn, Goal Germany correspondent
- Stefan Doring, Dortmund fan
- Tobias Kind, Bayern fan
Let's check in with Tim to get a taste of the pre-game atmosphere inside the ground ...
"30 minutes to go until kick-off and the atmosphere is already amazing. Both groups of fans sing songs to rile the other ones. But everythings is peaceful. Jurgen Klopp stood some minutes alone at the kick-off-point and let all the Wembley madness have an effect on him."
- Tim Rohn, Goal Germany correspondent
- Stefan Doring, Dortmund fan
- Tobias Kind, Bayern fan
Let's check in with Tim to get a taste of the pre-game atmosphere inside the ground ...
"30 minutes to go until kick-off and the atmosphere is already amazing. Both groups of fans sing songs to rile the other ones. But everythings is peaceful. Jurgen Klopp stood some minutes alone at the kick-off-point and let all the Wembley madness have an effect on him."
7:25 PM BST
The phrase 'mixed emotions' seems made for Matthias Sammer, the legendary sweeper who inspired Dortmund to Champions League glory in 1997 but who is now employed by Bayern Munich. However, he's doing a pretty decent job of putting his old allegiances to one side ahead of tonight's final.
"It is hard to talk about feelings ahead of a match," the Bayern sporting director told Sky Sport Germany. "We want to show what made us strong all these weeks.
"We may not forget that Dortmund lost twice and drew twice in our last four matches. But they will present themselves differently tonight, that is for sure."
"It is hard to talk about feelings ahead of a match," the Bayern sporting director told Sky Sport Germany. "We want to show what made us strong all these weeks.
"We may not forget that Dortmund lost twice and drew twice in our last four matches. But they will present themselves differently tonight, that is for sure."
7:19 PM BST
And one final question for Carlo ...
@OmarAb96: What is the most important battle on the pitch tonight?
CG: This is going to sound like a cliche, and probably not the answer you are looking for but whichever team is more clinical will win the game. That is the real battle, more so than any individual contest because these are two sides who value the collective. I expect Bayern to have more possession, but Dortmund are still incredibly dangerous on the break. Bayern may create more chances, but Dortmund will have their opportunities too. It really depends who is more efficient.
And like I said earlier, the first goal will be crucial. If Bayern score first, it will be very difficult for Dortmund to come back.
@OmarAb96: What is the most important battle on the pitch tonight?
CG: This is going to sound like a cliche, and probably not the answer you are looking for but whichever team is more clinical will win the game. That is the real battle, more so than any individual contest because these are two sides who value the collective. I expect Bayern to have more possession, but Dortmund are still incredibly dangerous on the break. Bayern may create more chances, but Dortmund will have their opportunities too. It really depends who is more efficient.
And like I said earlier, the first goal will be crucial. If Bayern score first, it will be very difficult for Dortmund to come back.
7:13 PM BST
Carlo's now had his attention turned to the intiguing arrival of a certain Spaniard at the Allianz Arena this summer ...
@A_Mostefa17: Do you think Bayern will be even better with Guardiola next year or will it all go wrong for them?
CG: Everything suggests that Guardiola's Bayern will be a great team. The setups at Bayern and Barcelona are comparable, both on and off the pitch. Only Barcelona have monopolised more possession than Bayern over the past two seasons, while the Germans have enough top quality young players for Guardiola to build a great team around.
Everything is there for Guardiola to do well, the problem is that if Bayern win tonight and clinch the treble - as expected - how on earth do you better that? The simple answer is you can't. So Guardiola will almost be in a no-win situation from the outset, and that is never an easy starting point.
@A_Mostefa17: Do you think Bayern will be even better with Guardiola next year or will it all go wrong for them?
CG: Everything suggests that Guardiola's Bayern will be a great team. The setups at Bayern and Barcelona are comparable, both on and off the pitch. Only Barcelona have monopolised more possession than Bayern over the past two seasons, while the Germans have enough top quality young players for Guardiola to build a great team around.
Everything is there for Guardiola to do well, the problem is that if Bayern win tonight and clinch the treble - as expected - how on earth do you better that? The simple answer is you can't. So Guardiola will almost be in a no-win situation from the outset, and that is never an easy starting point.
7:09 PM BST
And the rest of that response (trust me - it gets even better!) to the question on whether Germany deserves four Champions League places:
CG: Germany took a place off Italy purely because Uefa's coefficient system - which rewards the same number of points to Europa League competitors as it does for those in the Champions League - was so ludicrously flawed.
There is no doubt that the Bundesliga is on the up and Serie A has since struggled in Europe - and this season Germany has proven its worth in the Champions League - but the league should hever have been granted a fourth place until they earned it in the Champions League ... not in a Mickey Mouse Cup that no one outside Germany and the minor nations takes seriously.
CG: Germany took a place off Italy purely because Uefa's coefficient system - which rewards the same number of points to Europa League competitors as it does for those in the Champions League - was so ludicrously flawed.
There is no doubt that the Bundesliga is on the up and Serie A has since struggled in Europe - and this season Germany has proven its worth in the Champions League - but the league should hever have been granted a fourth place until they earned it in the Champions League ... not in a Mickey Mouse Cup that no one outside Germany and the minor nations takes seriously.
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