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Vilanova: If Barcelona were 18 points behind, I'd be sacked
Jan 15, 2013 6:05:00 PM
The coach suggested that if his side were trailing by as big a margin as the Liga holders then he would not expect to be in a job, and is expecting a tough game against Malaga
| 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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Tito Vilanova has piled the pressure on Jose Mourinho by suggesting that if Barcelona were 18 points behind Real Madrid, he would be sacked.
Mourinho has come in for criticism because of his side's poor form in their title defence and the decision to drop club icon Iker Casillas. While in the game against Real Sociedad, the former Chelsea manager's name received whistles from Los Blancos support when it was read out.
And Vilanova has continued to ramp up the pressure by insinuating that he would be gone if he was in that position. When asked if the title race was over Vilanova told reporters: "No, but if the situation was the other way round, I woudn't be here to answer that question.
"Madrid are capable of winning every game in the second half of the season and we are capable of losing those points.
"We are not talking about four games, there are a lot of games left. I know that things can change very quickly. As soon as you lose two games, you look worse as a coach."
Vilanova was speaking ahead of the Blaugrana’s Copa del Rey tie against Malaga which he does not think will be an easy match, whilst he also had kind words for former coach Pep Guardiola.
He added: “Malaga have already shown what they are capable of in the Champions League and La Liga. They are a team full of virtue and you can have a red card or go a goal down and everything is more difficult, because it is decided over the two legs."
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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.
10:22 PM BST
Terrific stuff from Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller, the kind of socks-around-the-ankles player that I think any true football fan inherently adores.
"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.
"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."
"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.
"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."
10:17 PM BST
An word from Goal Germany correspondent Tim Rohn on a night of redemption for Bayern Munich:
"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."
"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."
10:13 PM BST
Happily, Dortmund's players aren't feeling too down about things. They're proud of what they've done, and rightly so. They've lit up the competition with their fearless brand of football.
"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."
Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."
"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."
Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."
10:07 PM BST
Some early reaction from the man of the moment, Arjen Robben, who's unsurprisingly overcome with emotion.
"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this. They told me: 'You'll score the goal.' It’s not quite sunk in yet. There’s a lot of emotion.
"You know, this was such a close match. A match with two teams at the same level. It was an even game: they had chances; we had chances. For the goal, though, I just reacted to Franck's flick and then the ball went in."
You'll never hear or read a more simplistic description of the Dutchman's Champions League winner!
"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this. They told me: 'You'll score the goal.' It’s not quite sunk in yet. There’s a lot of emotion.
"You know, this was such a close match. A match with two teams at the same level. It was an even game: they had chances; we had chances. For the goal, though, I just reacted to Franck's flick and then the ball went in."
You'll never hear or read a more simplistic description of the Dutchman's Champions League winner!
10:03 PM BST
Now it's Bayerns turn to climb Wembley's not-as-famous-as-they-used-to-be steps to collect their reward for sweeping all before them in Europe this season. They wait for their captain, Lahm, who takes a moment to compose himself before hoisting the Champions League trophy. After the misery of Munich 12 months ago, Bayern are now basking in the wonder of Wembley. Dortmund were magnificent but few could argue that Bayern have not been the best team in the Champions League this season. They deserve this, their inauguration as the new kings of Europe.
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