Barcelona Coach Guardiola Honored to Equal Real Madrid Record

Posted Tuesday, February 01, 2011 by english.cri.cn

Barca seal a 3-0 win to open up seven point gap at the top of La Liga and break a further record.

Pep Guardiola spoke of the honor he felt after watching his Barcelona side set a new record on Sunday

After setting another club record of 28 games unbeaten a few weeks ago, Saturday night's 3-0 win away to Hercules saw the reigning BBVA Primera Liga Champions equal the 15-game winning run set by Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid side in the 1960-61 season.

Two more goals from Leo Messi, plus an opening strike from Pedro Rodriguez gave Barca the three points and the record and helped avenge the shock 2-0 defeat Barca suffered in front of their own fans against Hercules at the start of the current season.

"It's a honor to share this record with Di Stefano and that Real Madrid side of the 60's said Guardiola in Sunday's edition of El Mundo Deportivo.

"Nobody has been able to do the same for 50 years, but I am sure that in the future other teams will be able to beat it," he added.

Guardiola admitted that until Messi had scored his two goals in the last three minutes of the game the result had been in doubt.

"We had things under control, but Hercules closed us down and made us use the wings more. It was important that we scored the first goal before halftime," he said, highlighting Pedro's importance.

"He helped us a lot and we are all really happy for him. I hope he continues like this," commented Guardiola in reference to Pedro's run of scoring in sex consecutive matches.

Guardiola had words of praise for Messi and looked ahead to the future, saying his side aimed to confirm their place in the final of the Copa del Rey this week against Almeria before looking ahead to their Champions League tie against Arsenal.

"That game against Arsenal will mark our future," he assured.