The coaching feats of Pep Guardiola, who masterminded Barcelona's dominance of Spanish and European football at the expense of bitter rivals Real Madrid, are already in the past according to Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
Guardiola guided Barca to three league titles and two Champions League trophies during his four-year tenure, which will end in a few weeks after he announced on Friday he was stepping down at the end of the season.
Despite Guardiola's achievements, Karanka was in no mood to pay him too many compliments.
"La Liga exists with and without Guardiola," said Karanka, who attends the eve of match La Liga press conferences as head coach Jose Mourinho refuses to.
"It would exist with or without Karanka and similarly with Mourinho.
"Guardiola has won several titles, but he is already in the past."
Karanka turned his attention to the league match with Sevilla on Sunday and said that despite the disappointment of exiting the Champions League semi-finals last Wednesday the Real players were determined to go on and win the domestic title.
Real lost to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout at the Bernabeu.
"The squad are sad but highly motivated," said Karanka.
"We have a reason to be enthusiastic (the title) which is almost within our grasp and we are going to fight to the end to win it."
Real need just six points from their last four matches to secure the title as they lead Barcelona by seven points.
Two players who look unlikely to play a role in the run-in are long-time Mourinho favourite Ricardo Carvalho - who played under him at both Porto and Chelsea - and Lassan Diarra. Both were left out of the squad for the Sevilla game.
Source: AFP
