Pep expects 'different' United

Pep expects 'different' United

Published May. 4, 2011 9:29 a.m. ET

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects to face a very different Manchester United side in the Champions League final, should they qualify.

Barca, who beat United in the 2009 final, sealed passage to the final thanks to a 1-1 draw - and 3-1 aggregate win - over Real Madrid at the Nou Camp and will face United if, as expected, the Red Devils overcome Schalke at home in the sides' second leg match on Tuesday night.

"We will wait and see who will be our opponent and we'll prepare accordingly," Guardiola said.

"But if it's Manchester United then it will be a different game to the final in 2009 - they are a different team with different strikers."

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Guardiola's side survived a nervous opening to outclass United in Rome two years ago, but the Barca coach believes that match - a 2-0 victory for the Catalans - was decided by a number of factors.

"A match is decided by many uncontrollable things," he said.

"We were lucky in the beginning of that game and we were a bit better than them after that, but if we meet again it will be a different match.

"We will have to try and find their weaknesses, have the ball and attack."

And Guardiola says he will not be underestimating the Premier League leaders or coach Sir Alex Ferguson.

"They are a great team and he is one of the best in the game - he has shown he can repeat and recreate, and win and win and win in finals."

In the meantime, Guardiola declared himself happy with his side's aggregate win over their fierce rivals Madrid.

"We are very satisfied with what he have achieved," he said.

"We knocked out a great team."

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