Gaizka Mendieta "Man City favorites again for the Champions League"

Manos Staramopoulos • 15 de septiembre de 2023

The former player spanish speaks with Discoveryfootball in Berlin about different items of international football

Gaizka Mendieta former spanish and Manos Staramopoulos of Discoveryfootball.com

At 49 years old and with many experiences in his life, Basque Gaizka Mendieta now offers his services in La Liga. However, he does not live in his home country of Spain, but in rainy London, where the offices of the international service of La Liga are, so that he can be informed about everything that happens both in the Premier League and in the other national championships and general football events.


Mendieta, distinguished himself most with Valencia (wearing the No. 8 shirt) where he twice reached the UEFA Champions League final, but lost both times (first to Real and then to Bayern Munich). Valencia coached at the time by the Argentinian Hector Cuper, he played for Castellon, Lazio, FC Barcelona and Middlesbrough. He wore the jersey of the Spanish national team 40 times (8 goals).


I meet Mendieta again, on my recent trip to Berlin, at the 30th ECA General Assembly, where of course he was invited. So it makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity for a conversation about what we both love, football.

DF: Gaizka, first of all, how do you see the new league in your country, Spain? Will we see any surprises?


R/: "As far as the title case is concerned, I don't think anyone can beat Barcelona, Real Madrid and then Atlético at the moment. Yes again these three will be the main contenders for the title. From now on, it is possible, because we are still at the beginning of the new league, that some team will appear and enter the top four of the Champions League. But I cannot know who it might be, because I repeat we are still at the beginning..."


DF: Let's go to UEFA's top product, the UEFA Champions League. The season that ended we saw Manchester City conquer the top of Europe. Do you think he will be able to keep the primaries?


R/: "The work that Pep Guardiola is doing at Manchester City is unique. He has managed to create a school of his own and find a way for his team to offer a nice spectacle and win titles. This year we even saw her dominating the Premier League again, winning the FA Cup, then the Champions League and the European Super Cup in Athens, while she also has the Club World Cup ahead of her. So yes, I think she has every reason to believe that she can worthily defend her title in the Champions League. Of course, things will not be easy, since there are equally strong teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, maybe even Paris Saint-Germain...”

DF: Who do you think will win the Ballon d'Or this year?


R/: "I know, like all of us, that Messi won the World Cup with the Argentine national team. That Kevin De Bruyne played an important role in City's success. But I personally believe that the Golden Ball will be won by the Norwegian, Haaland, who helped his team a lot with the many goals he scored to dominate everywhere.."


DF: Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are coming to the end of an amazing career. Do you see someone who will soon have us talking about him?


R/: "For now I think there is Haaland  and Mbappe who will take the reins. But a new kid comes running who, if he has no misfortunes in his life, then he will write his own story. And I am referring to 16-year-old Lamin Yamal. A kid who made his appearance with Barcelona in the Spanish league and showed amazing things. I think the future will be his. He plays as a right winger but using his wonderful left foot…


Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

   Post recientes


Nico  O`Reilly new star of Manchester City
Por Manos Staramopoulos 2 de abril de 2025
Nico O’Reilly is the reason why Manchester City did not exit the FA Cup and overturned Bournemouth, winning 2-1 to reach the semi-final at Wembley on 26 or 27 April
Carlo Ancelotti coach of Real Madrid`s
Por Manos Staramopoulos 27 de marzo de 2025
Brazil wants a new head coach after the defeat against Argentina 4-1 in Monumental Stadium. The italian coach is number one candidate.
James Rodriguez, fue uno de los jugadores de más bajo rendimiento  de Colombia ante Paraguay.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 26 de marzo de 2025
Colombia, termina esta fecha de eliminatorias confirmando que su nivel futbolistico sigue en picada. Y lo más preocupante es que no hay visos de recuperación. Nublado a nivel de ideas.
España igualó a dos con Países Bajos en la ida de cuartos de final de la UEFA Europa League.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 20 de marzo de 2025
La selección campeona de Europa extendió su racha de partidos invicto a 17, tras igualar a dos con los Países Bajos en Rotterdam
Gustavo Matosos en su etapa como entrenadxdor del CD León en 2014.
Por Teofilo Barrientos 18 de marzo de 2025
El entrenador de origen argentino fue determinante en el ascenso del Léon a la Primera División mexicana.
El Club Léon es el  principal escolta del América en la Liga MX.
Por Teófilo Barrientos 17 de marzo de 2025
El cuadro liderado por James Rodríguez, se enfrentará en Los Ángeles al Municipal de Guatemala.
Antonio Rudiger anotó  el  gol del triunfo en  la tanda de penaltis ante Atlético Madrid.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 12 de marzo de 2025
En una actuación floja en todo el partido, el cuadro de Carlo Ancelotti, tan sólo fue superior a su rival en la tanda de penaltis en donde venció 2-4. La polémica no faltó con un gol de penalti anulado a Julián Álvarez. Atlético Madrid mereció más.
Gigi Donnarumma goalkeeper of PSG
Por Manos Staramopoulos 12 de marzo de 2025
Donnarumma was the star of PSG's journey to the quarter-finals of UEFA Champions League.
FC Barcelona  will play qualified to Quarter finals offf Champions League.
Por Manos Staramopoulos 12 de marzo de 2025
Barça, qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday (11/3), scoring 3 goals against Benfica.
Share by: