Eric Roy, the coach of Stade Brestois, drew a comparison between Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and the current Catalan side ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday. Roy acknowledged that the modern Barcelona team, led by Hansi Flick, is incredible but still falls short of the caliber of Guardiola’s team, which featured Lionel Messi during his peak.
Under Guardiola’s tutelage between 2008 and 2012, Messi achieved unparalleled success, recording 211 goals and 94 assists in 219 outings across competitions. Guardiola’s innovative tactics, including his decision to deploy Messi as a false nine, revolutionized the Barcelona side. As a result, Messi enjoyed his most prolific period in his career, forming a deadly combination with Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Roy emphasized that while Barcelona’s current team is undoubtedly talented, it lacks the consistency and dominance of Guardiola’s side. Despite this, Roy believes that Brest will attempt to propose things and be brave in their attempt to take on the powerful Barcelona team. He is realistic about the outcome, acknowledging that if Barcelona is stronger, Brest will congratulate them, as the game is ultimately limited to 95 or 100 minutes.
Barcelona’s current squad has been impressive this season, with nine points from four games in the UEFA Champions League. They are currently sixth on the table, having lost only one game this season. Their opponents, Brest, occupy fourth place with 10 points from four games, having won three and drawn one match. The Catalan giants have a rich history of success in the competition, with four titles under Messi’s guidance in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015. Messi has also been the top scorer six times in his career, with 120 goals and 41 assists in 149 games, making him the second-highest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
Despite the disparity in quality between Guardiola’s Barcelona and the current side, Roy believes that the latter is on the right track. He expects a good match and hopes that his Brest side can be bold in their approach, taking advantage of any opportunities that may arise against a powerful Barcelona team. The UEFA Champions League clash is set to be an exciting encounter, with Brest looking to upset the odds and Barcelona seeking to extend their winning streak in the competition.
