Guadalajara chief hails Barcelona as dream opponent – ‘I’ve been a Barça fan all my life’ | OneFootball

Barcelona begin their Copa del Rey campaign later today with a trip to face CD Guadalajara, a fixture that carries a special emotional weight for the hosts. 

While the gap in stature between the two sides is evident, the occasion itself has been embraced with genuine excitement rather than fear. 

For Guadalajara, the visit of the reigning La Liga and Copa del Rey champions is being treated as a historic moment for the club, the city, and its supporters.

Ahead of the contest, Guadalajara sporting director Nestor Susaeta shared his thoughts on the draw and what it meant internally when Barcelona’s name was pulled out. 

“When we got Barça, people here went crazy,” he told SPORT. 

“I think they were the best opponent for us. Because of the proximity to Madrid, paying a lot of money, it’s true, but anyone can go to the Bernabeu or the Metropolitano. 

“Madrid is half an hour from Guadalajara. Seeing Barça is more complicated. It was a bombshell.”

Glamour of the match

Susaeta then went on to explain that Barcelona were not just a glamorous draw, but the opponent many inside the club truly hoped for. 

Speaking from a personal perspective, he did not attempt to hide his long-standing affection for the Catalan giants.

Barcelona will face CD Guadalajara. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

“I’ve been a Barça fan all my life, I’ve always liked them, but seeing the La Liga and Copa del Rey champions, with the players they have now.”

That admiration is backed by close observation. As someone who follows Barcelona closely, Susaeta outlined what he expects from Hansi Flick’s side on the pitch.

“I watch all their games. If I can’t watch them live, I watch them later. I expect Barça to press, with a high defensive line, to want the ball. 

“I expect them to play their best and for us to play ours. From there, it’s football and we’ll see what happens.”

Assessing the opponent

Looking at Barcelona’s campaign, Susaeta offered a balanced assessment of their season so far, acknowledging minor setbacks while underlining the strength of the project.

“Very well. They had some doubts in the Champions League with some bad results, but they are very hungry, they have a great squad, and the work at La Masia is spectacular. 

“The numbers and the feeling of a team that is a pleasure to watch are spectacular.”

Finally, attention turned to the players the crowd is hoping to see, with Barcelona’s young star, Lamine Yamal, generating particular excitement ahead of kick-off.

“Hopefully, they will bring their best players. People want to see Lamine, Pedri, and Raphinha, but they are all beasts.

“They are all superlative players. For us, facing them is an honour, a dream,” he concluded.