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.
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.
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.
"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.
"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."
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.
"They are a talented team and well organised in
defence. I am impressed by their quality and my players know that.
"We will be the away side. I was at the semifinal
between Raja and Atletico Mineiro and, after leaving the stadium, within 10 or
15 minutes the people were on the streets going crazy. I realised how important
this is for the country.
"The king of Morocco will be there, which shows how
important this is. It is good to play in such an atmosphere," added the
former Barcelona boss, who won the Club World Cup with the Catalans in 2009 and
2011 but knows the tournament does not boast a great reputation in Europe.
"This is a very important competition for me. It is
the third time I have been here representing a European team and each one I
have viewed as a unique opportunity in my life."
No African team has ever won the Club World Cup, and Raja
are only the second team from the continent to reach the final after Tout
Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who lost to Inter Milan
in 2010.
Raja's Tunisian coach Faouzi Benzarti, who was only
appointed days before the competition started, is hopeful that his players can
spring what would be a huge surprise.
"Of course Bayern are a great club, I think even the
biggest in the world at the moment. But we will try to exploit their little
weaknesses and take them by surprise," he said before adding that trying
to contain Ballon d'Or candidate Franck Ribery holds no great fears.
"We were asked the same question about Ronaldinho
before our match against Atletico Mineiro...Ribery is a brilliant player, but
we will try to press him whenever he gets the ball.
"Every team that plays in the European Champions
League has great players and, for Bayern, Ribery is just one of them."
Culled from Supersports
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