Guardiola saddened by Barcelona attack

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who had a stellar career with Barcelona as both player and manager, has spoken of his sadness over the deadly attacks.

Former Barcelona captain and coach Pep Guardiola has spoken of his sorrow following the deadly terrorist attack in his home city.

Fourteen people died and dozens were injured when two vehicles ploughed into pedestrians in Barcelona's busy tourist area of Las Ramblas and the nearby seaside town of Cambrils on Thursday.

Guardiola is now manager at Manchester City but he remains synonymous with Barcelona, having enjoyed a glittering playing and coaching career at the Nou Camp.

"Obviously I am affected by what happened. Las Ramblas is an important place in the history of Barcelona," the 46-year-old said at a press conference in Manchester.

"My thoughts are for the families and victims of the tragedy. I am sure the city and country will stand up and move on. I just wish it doesn't happen again in Barcelona or in the whole world."

Barcelona's players and coaching staff held a minute's silence before training on Friday in tribute to the victims of the atrocity.

The club had already confirmed that players of all their teams would wear black armbands during games this weekend - the senior side begin their La Liga campaign against Real Betis at the Nou Camp on Sunday - while a minute's silence will be held at matches across Spain.

Barcelona-based Espanyol also published photographs of their squad linking arms in a circle to pay their respects.

Other clubs have also paid tribute. Spanish and European champions Real Madrid tweeted a picture of their first-team squad holding a minute's silence at their training base, with the likes of newly promoted Catalan club Girona, Granada, Levante and Real Mallorca posting similar images of their players and staff.

Barca club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and directors Pau Vilanova and Maria Teixidor were among the thousands of people who attended a minute's silence observed at 11am in the city's Placa Catalunya, close to the scene of the attack. Spain's King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy were also in attendance.

A minute's silence was also held prior to the start of play at Edgbaston in the second Test between England and the West Indies.


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Source: AAP



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