Sunday 30 January 2011

Guardiola hails record-breaking Barca

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was a proud man after his side’s equaled the La Liga record of 15 straight victories.

Barca’s 3-0 victory away to Hercules not only avenged their defeat to the Spanish strugglers in September last year, but equalled the league record set by Real Madrid in the 1960-61 season.

Guardiola did not shy away from talking down the achievement that his all-conquering side brought up on Saturday, as they consolidated their seven-point advantage on top of the table, although Jose Mourinho’s Real side scan reduce the gap when they face Osasuna on Sunday.

“It is a tremendous honour to win 15 consecutive league games and equal the record of (Alfredo) di Stefano’s Real Madrid side,” Guardiola said of the team which won the first five European Cups between 1956 and 1960.

“I am sure that some team will beat the record but nobody has managed to do it in 50 years. We are proud. If 50 years have passed, it shows how difficult it is.”

Barcelona will hold the record outright if they can beat Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou next week.

Guardiola also heaped praise on midfielder Lionel Messi, who scored two goals to seal the match against Hercules.

“He (Messi) has scored 164 goals at the age of 23 and is fourth in Barcelona’s all-time scorer’s list, but if he continues like this he is going to break all the records,” he said.

Sun 30 January, 2011

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