Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team will face a hostile reception in Saturday's Club World Cup final against Raja Casablanca in Marrakech.
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Raja are playing in the competition as champions of the host nation and created a huge shock by beating South American champions Atletico Mineiro in the semifinals on Wednesday.
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European champions Bayern are the stronger side on paper, but Guardiola has been impressed with Raja's performances thus far and they will have a large and passionate support behind them in the final.
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"I don't think Atletico Mineiro underestimated Raja Casablanca. Raja were simply very good, very intense," said Guardiola, whose team are aiming to win a fifth trophy in the calendar year to go with their triumphs in the Champions League, Bundesliga, German Cup and European Super Cup.
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"People thought that the European and South American teams would both win and get to the final, but there are always teams that play with heart and you could see from the way they celebrated. We will be playing against an entire country that will be there helping them."
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Before beating Atletico Mineiro, Raja got the better of Oceanian champions Auckland City and also saw off Monterrey of Mexico after extra-time in the quarterfinals.
And they still scaled through at the end of the day, as expected. Bayern Munich is just the best club in the world right now.