Machín on the key to Barça's success, Guardiola & more...
The Girona coach praised the Pique-Umtiti pairing
He also spoke about other coaches in the Spanish game
Pablo Machín spoke exclusively to SPORT this week as his Girona side prepare to face Barcelona. He didn't just speak about Girona -- the surprise package in La Liga this season -- but also about a number of other aspects of football...
THE HIDDEN KEY TO BARÇA
“They work very well together [Pique and Umtiti], they dominate the play in the air, the space... That's not really recognised that much, considering they're a team that base a lot of their game on not conceding."
PEP GUARDIOLA
“The time that I have spent with Pep I have realised that he is special. The things that he does he does because he is a visionary, because he has an innate talent. He's at an unreachable level for the majority [of coaches]"
VICENTE DEL BOSQUE
“He's not always in the media and he doesn't put himself ahead of the players, but that makes him even better. He's generous and intelligent because those that will make you good or bad are the players -- and they see that he's putting them ahead of himself."
'CHOLO' SIMEONE
“I admire him for having established a winning mentality, showing that a team of good players at a modest team can take on anyone. He deserved to win the Champions League."
REAL MADRID
“It's impossible to always be at your best. There is pressure and external worries that aren't just football. These days, we all want to give 100 percent against these rivals. And to beat a team that gives 100 percent is very difficult. And Real Madrid are struggling."
