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Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola Respectful Of Athletic Bilbao

The Blaugrana must not rest on their laurels when they travel to San Mames...

Nov 20, 2009 4:39:15 PM

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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has warned his side that they cannot expect an easy ride when they face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night.

The Basque outfit were beaten by the Blaugrana in last year's Copa del Rey final, and were also brushed aside in the Spanish Supercopa at the start of this season. However, Guardiola does not believe that this adds an extra dimension to the game.

"What worries me is Bilbao and Athletic," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"San Mames pressures you like no one else - this game concerns me and we will see how we deal with it.

"I've always seen them in the mood for revenge. San Mames is San Mames and Athletic are Athletic. Having won the last matches against them means nothing. We must give a lot of respect to this game.

"I saw the game against Atletico Madrid and they went at pace far above the average for the Spanish league," he mused.

With Barcelona's match against Real Madrid just around the corner, Guardiola intimated that he will be happy to see Cristiano Ronaldo take to the pitch for 'el Clasico'.

"It will be better. I'm delighted that he might be able to come and play against us and that the stadium can see such a good player."

Anthony Wright, Goal.com

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