Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp has fired the first shot towards rivals Bayern Munich and their new coach Pep Guardiola, telling him that he will not find it so easy at Bayern as he found it at Barcelona.
The defending champions have struggled in the Bundesliga this season, and it looks like Klopp is already looking forward to the battle with Bayern Munich next season.
While Klopp said he is in awe of Guardiola’s record at Barcelona, which included a record 14 titles in four years, he explained to El Pais this week that the success was also down to a number of other elements, beyond Guardiola’s impact.
“Most impressive is how Barca play in attack. Messi scores and shouts for joy as if it is the first time. Xavi gets every ball like it were the first of his life,” the 45-year-old reflected of the Spanish League leaders.
“And you get the feeling that he would take the ball and caress it and just keep playing. The same with Iniesta. Busquets anticipates in midfield, responsible for the work.
“Puyol is incredible, a shocking hairstyle but a super player, a human being first, with a big heart. He breaks his elbow and is back playing in two weeks.
“With that motivation they fight for victory. That is a model. I read an interview with Xavi. They asked if he wanted to Coach and he said: ‘I’m am not in such a hurry, let me enjoy my playing days.’
“And you think: ‘You have played football every other day for 20 years and you still want to continue?’. That says it all about the game, but also about Xavi.
“They are the best in the world. And that was prompted by Pep, that is clear. He did an excellent job.
“But he will not always have players like that at every club and he knows it. Now he has to teach us how to do it when the players are somewhat less good.”
Dortmund really impressed during the Champions League group stages, and with three Bundesliga teams through to the knockout stages, we could well see a German club lift the Champions League trophy this season.
