El Clasico - Pep Guardiola urges FC Barcelona fans to 'leave Pepe alone'

Visit Save For Later

by Crunch Sports Staff

Posted

Pepe (credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has told fans not to give Real Madrid defender Pepe a hard time tonight in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at Camp Nou.

Pepe appeared to deliberately tread on Barca star Lionel Messi during last Wednesday's first leg clash at the Bernabeu, which the Catalans won 2-1.

"Let us leave Pepe alone," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday.

"If his coach wants him to play, then let him play and I hope this will be the best possible possible for everyone.

"I hope that what happened with [Luis] Figo will not be repeated because the club's fans regret what happened.

"If it happens again, it means we have not learned anything and that we are not the club we have to be. It would hurt more than to be eliminated."

Pepe is due to learn on Wednesday whether he will be punished by the Spanish Football Federation for his actions.

The Portugal international was left out of Jose Mourinho's squad for last Sunday's 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.

Looking ahead of the second leg clash, Guardiola added: "I do not want anyone to think that we have won because the match will be very close and the two teams will have a chance to go through until the last minute.

"If we try to hold out for the result of the [first-leg], they will eliminate us."

Like Like

All Soccer News

Recent Soccer Articles

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich - Live Stream, Team News and Match Preview25 May 2013
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich takes place tonight in the Champions League final.The game takes place at Wembley Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 BST.In the United Kingdom, the game airs live on ITV 1/ITV 1HD and on Sky Sports 1/Sky Sports 1 HD, and live commentary is also av...
Fernando Torres wants to play under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea FC next season25 May 2013
Fernando Torres wants to have the chance to work under Jose Mourinho next season at Chelsea. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager and it has been confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid at the start of next month. A number of Chelsea players hav...
Thiago Alcantara urged to snub Man Utd and stay at FC Barcelona25 May 2013
Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes team-mate Thiago Alcantara, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, should stay at Camp Nou.Alcantara has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time, with Arsenal having monitored his progress over the past couple of years, while las...
Stevan Jovetic could snub Arsenal FC and stay in Italy - agent25 May 2013
Stevan Jovetic, who is a target for Arsenal, wants to stay in Italy next season, according to the Fiorentina forward's agent.Jovetic is understood to be Arsenal's top summer target as manager Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his squad before the start of next season, but the Gunners face...
Marco Materazzi keen on Chelsea FC role25 May 2013
Marco Materazzi has revealed that he would love to join Chelsea this summer should Jose Mourinho return to the club. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager after he leaves Real Madrid at the start of next month. Materazzi retired from football at t...
Stoke dismiss Liverpool FC-Asmir Begovic speculation25 May 2013
Stoke City insist goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is not closing in on a move to Liverpool. Liverpool are the bookmakers' favourites to sign Begovic this summer after the 25-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United, was quoted as saying: "I want to start preparing on July 10, with al...
Cristiano Ronaldo could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea FC this summer - Ramon Calderon25 May 2013
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea. Earlier this season, Ronaldo claimed he was unhappy with a "professional issue" at Real, which has led to speculation that he could leave the Bernabeu when the transfer window ...
Romelu Lukaku keen on Borussia Dortmund move if Chelsea FC loan him out again25 May 2013
Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he would be interested in joining Borussia Dortmund this summer if he is sent out on loan again by Chelsea. Lukaku spent last season at West Brom and revealed admitted that he is still hoping to become a success at Chelsea, but several clubs are keen on taking him on...
Three reasons why Liverpool FC will enjoy success under Brendan Rodgers25 May 2013
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes a top four finish is possible next season.The Reds are expected to strengthen their squad over the summer, writer Thomas Rooney has three reasons why Liverpool can be a success under Rodgers... 1. Philippe Coutinho The impact of Coutinho has bee...

Recent Articles

Ronaldo to Chelsea FC? Coentrao to Man Utd? Williams to Arsenal FC? Saturday's transfer round-up1 hour 7 minutes ago
Saturday's round up of the top transfer stories from the past 24 hours... - Fabio Coentrao, who has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, has told Ojogo he is ready to follow Jose Mourinho and leave Real Madrid this summer. - Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes team-mate Thiago Alcantara, ...
French Open 2013 - Laura Robson can beat Caroline Wozniacki says Heather Watson1 hour 14 minutes ago
Heather Watson is looking forward to her first round match against Stefanie Voegele at the 2013 French Open, and also believes Laura Robson can cause an upset at Roland Garros. Watson is preparing to make her return to action after a lengthy absence caused by glandular fever. Whilst she admitted th...
International Premier Tennis League plans revealed1 hour 44 minutes ago
The International Premier Tennis League is looking like a serious prospect and Mahesh Bhupathi and Justin Gimelstob have explained why they are excited about the project. Speaking to reporters in Paris, Bhupathi and Gimelstob made a twenty minute presentation about their plans for the new IPTL. The...
French Open 2013 - Vasek Pospisil reaches French Open main draw1 hour 55 minutes ago
Vasek Pospisil surged into the main draw of the 2013 French Open with an emphatic 6-2 6-0 win over compatriot Frank Dancevic. Friday was a great day for Pospisil at Roland Garros. The young Canadian was able to earn a place in the main draw of the French Open with a victory over fellow countryman D...
Rafael Benitez to leave Chelsea FC and head for Napoli1 hour 58 minutes ago
Outgoing Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez looks set to take charge of Napoli.Benitez had last week confirmed he was expecting a number of offers to come his way over the summer and had revealed that finding a job in England was his "priority".But speaking on Friday, Napoli president Aurelio D...
Demba Ba reveals Chelsea FC squad talking about Jose Mourinho return25 May 2013
Demba Ba has revealed that Chelsea players are excited about the prospect of Jose Mourinho returning to the club this summer. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager and it has been confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid at the start of next month...
FC Barcelona target Neymar would be 'a huge coup' for Real Madrid CF25 May 2013
Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano believes the club would make a "huge coup" by signing Santos striker Neymar this summer. Neymar, who is out of contract in June 2014, is arguably the most sought after player in world football today and has been linked with a number of clubs in recent month...
Agent says Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC target Christian Benteke 'disgusted' by story25 May 2013
The agent of Christian Benteke says the Aston Villa striker is "disgusted" by reports suggesting he would try and force a move away from the club. A national newspaper had suggested that Benteke, who was quoted as saying he would find it hard to turn down the chance "to join a club like Arsenal",&n...
French Open 2013 - Somdev Devvarman sets sights on Roger Federer clash25 May 2013
Somdev Devvarman made his way through qualifying on Friday, and is looking to fight his way through to round two of the 2013 French Open, where he could potentially face Roger Federer. Devvarman worked his way into the main draw of the French Open on Friday with a victory over Wayne Odesnik and may...