Real Madrid & Portuguese great cherishes memories of battles from Guardiola-Mourinho era
MUMBAI: One wasn't keeping count, but on quite a few occasions at Saturday's press conference here ahead of the ‘Legends Faceoff', Pepe broke into a wide-eyed smile. It straight-away struck you that that was surely a side of the iconic Portuguese centre back Lionel Messi or Neymar couldn't have encountered on a football pitch whenever Real Madrid and Barcelona battled it out.
A player renowned for his defensive tenacity and fiery personality, which often drew him into prickly situations during matches, Pepe is a key figure, not just in Real Madrid history, but one who played in an era where the famed El Clasico rivalry peaked. Think back to 2010 to 2012 when Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, featuring Pepe, resorted to every tactic, every trick in the book, in an attempt to topple Pep Guardiola's majestic Barcelona.
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Now, the 42-year-old defender, who ended his playing career less than a year ago, is here, in the city, eager to give Indian football fans a taste of what that rivalry is like. At DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, Pepe will be part of the Real Madrid Legends taking on their Barcelona counterparts in a game set to witness several former stars of the two LaLiga giants. It's not just the rekindling of an old rivalry, but some fond old memories too!
"Every single Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona that I played has been very special, and I got the opportunity to enjoy some of them," Pepe said through a translator on the eve of the exhibition game. "When Mourinho and Guardiola were there, things kind of heated up from both sides. But keeping aside those fights, I think football always won because people got to focus and enjoy the match in a better atmosphere.
"There were fights between clubs, between trainers, between players, between Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo), but those years were incredible years for Spanish football. I could see them from the inside and they've been awesome games, both for the fans and for the players," he added.
Having played alongside Ronaldo at Madrid for eight seasons, as well as with the Portugal national team, Pepe also had the opportunity to go up against his compatriot much after both players had left Madrid. It compelled a reporter to ask, whom did he find more challenging to defend against, Messi or Ronaldo? There came the smile! "If I had to choose, I would say Cristiano because he's someone who has given a lot to football, especially his passion and his effort.
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"Also I've been training with him for a long time, so I know him and he's been my teammate, so I know what training with him is like. He's a player that has given a lot to Real Madrid, to Manchester United, to Juventus and to the Portuguese national team, so he's worked really hard," said Pepe, a three-time Champions League winner.
With 2002 World Cup winner Edmilson also in attendance, the former Barcelona star was asked how he would compare El Clasico to the passionate South American derby featuring Brazil and Argentina. "Today the rivalry between Barca-Madrid is a little bit higher," the Brazilian said, offering a critical explanation. "I think the players play better in Real Madrid or Barcelona than in their national team."
For Javier Saviola, the diminutive former Argentina striker who is part of a distinguished group of players to have experienced El Clasico in both Barcelona and Real Madrid colours, there's no comparison. "There are some countries with great football traditions such as Brazil and Argentina. However, on the field, there's nothing in the world compared to Barca against Madrid."
MUMBAI: One wasn't keeping count, but on quite a few occasions at Saturday's press conference here ahead of the ‘Legends Faceoff', Pepe broke into a wide-eyed smile. It straight-away struck you that that was surely a side of the iconic Portuguese centre back Lionel Messi or Neymar couldn't have encountered on a football pitch whenever Real Madrid and Barcelona battled it out.
A player renowned for his defensive tenacity and fiery personality, which often drew him into prickly situations during matches, Pepe is a key figure, not just in Real Madrid history, but one who played in an era where the famed El Clasico rivalry peaked. Think back to 2010 to 2012 when Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, featuring Pepe, resorted to every tactic, every trick in the book, in an attempt to topple Pep Guardiola's majestic Barcelona.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Now, the 42-year-old defender, who ended his playing career less than a year ago, is here, in the city, eager to give Indian football fans a taste of what that rivalry is like. At DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, Pepe will be part of the Real Madrid Legends taking on their Barcelona counterparts in a game set to witness several former stars of the two LaLiga giants. It's not just the rekindling of an old rivalry, but some fond old memories too!
"Every single Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona that I played has been very special, and I got the opportunity to enjoy some of them," Pepe said through a translator on the eve of the exhibition game. "When Mourinho and Guardiola were there, things kind of heated up from both sides. But keeping aside those fights, I think football always won because people got to focus and enjoy the match in a better atmosphere.
"There were fights between clubs, between trainers, between players, between Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo), but those years were incredible years for Spanish football. I could see them from the inside and they've been awesome games, both for the fans and for the players," he added.
Having played alongside Ronaldo at Madrid for eight seasons, as well as with the Portugal national team, Pepe also had the opportunity to go up against his compatriot much after both players had left Madrid. It compelled a reporter to ask, whom did he find more challenging to defend against, Messi or Ronaldo? There came the smile! "If I had to choose, I would say Cristiano because he's someone who has given a lot to football, especially his passion and his effort.
Video
"Also I've been training with him for a long time, so I know him and he's been my teammate, so I know what training with him is like. He's a player that has given a lot to Real Madrid, to Manchester United, to Juventus and to the Portuguese national team, so he's worked really hard," said Pepe, a three-time Champions League winner.
With 2002 World Cup winner Edmilson also in attendance, the former Barcelona star was asked how he would compare El Clasico to the passionate South American derby featuring Brazil and Argentina. "Today the rivalry between Barca-Madrid is a little bit higher," the Brazilian said, offering a critical explanation. "I think the players play better in Real Madrid or Barcelona than in their national team."
For Javier Saviola, the diminutive former Argentina striker who is part of a distinguished group of players to have experienced El Clasico in both Barcelona and Real Madrid colours, there's no comparison. "There are some countries with great football traditions such as Brazil and Argentina. However, on the field, there's nothing in the world compared to Barca against Madrid."
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