Thiago Alcantara, a youth product of FC Barcelonaa s famed La Masia academy, has said that he would have stayed at Camp Nou had current Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola remained at Blaugrana.
Pep Guardiola, who was the coach of FC Barcelona between 2008 to 2012, took a year-long sabbatical after leaving the Camp Nou and joined Bayern Munich in June 2013. Pep Guardiola lured Thiago Alcantara away from FC Barcelona within months of his arrival at Allianz Arena and the midfielder has now claimed that he would not have left the club had the philosopher coach remained at Camp Nou.
“Pep Guardiola has always had a lot of faith in me, and me in him, so if he was still the coach then yes, I would probably still have been at Barcelona,” Thiago Alcantara told The Independent.
“But going over the past doesn’t help you with the future and I’m just lucky enough to be here now with him at Bayern Munich.”
Thiago Alcantara will face his old team-mate Leo Messi tonight and the midfielder was full of praise for the FC Barcelona attacker in his interview.
“He’s playing deeper and he’s scored 38 La Liga goals a you could play him in goal, and he would still score 25 a season.
“He’s out of this world. But while it is fine to recognise that, and have respect for him, when you have him in front of you, you must try to get the ball off him and play yourself.”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich goal keeper Manuel Neuer has said that his club will not a park the busa against FC Barcelona tonight.
a We know how important this match is but we are the German champions and the Champions League is still very much up for grabs,a Manuel Neuer told reporters.
a Wea ve played very well in the competition this season while therea s a mutual respect between FC Barcelona and us, so Ia m sure wea ll put in a top display.a