Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday he was he glad to have been drawn alongside his former club Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals and expected the face-off to be a special experience for him.
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The Spaniard, a long-time Barca player, won 14 trophies in a four-year spell as head coach at the Nou Camp from 2008, including two Champions League titles.
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Bayern midfielder Thiago Alcantara, lured to Bayern by Guardiola last season, is also a Barcelona youth product.
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“Everyone understands how special this game is for me, for Thiago and my staff,” Guardiola, who joined Bayern in 2013 after taking a year out, told reporters.
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“Barcelona was our life. When you are in a semi-final then you will always face a big team. What can I say? Barcelona is my home.”
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Bayern, who are chasing a repeat of their 2013 treble, are closing in on the Bundesliga title and are through to the last four of the German Cup as well.
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Guardiola has said a domestic double this season would not be enough for the Bavarians.
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“It will be a special game. We have to analyse Barcelona,” he said, heaping praise on coach Luis Enrique, a former team mate.
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“Barcelona are the best team at the moment. I am not surprised. He (Luis Enrique) has a lot of quality. He is a great guy and I am happy I will be facing him.”
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Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2011 under Guardiola, while Bayern claimed their fifth European crown in 2013, before the Spanish coach took charge, after crushing the Spaniards 7-0 in the semifinals.
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“Now they have brought in Neymar, (Luis) Suarez. They have a new coach,” said Guardiola. “Other than that they play still the same, with the same mentality.”
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