Express & Star

"Best team in my lifetime" When Vitor Pereira met Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona

Barcelona were at the peak of their powers when Wolves boss Vitor Pereira pitted his wits against Pep Guardiola for the first time.

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Pereira had just stepped up into the managerial hot seat after serving as Andre Villas-Boas' right-hand man during FC Porto's unbeaten Primeira Liga triumph. 

Villas-Boas then guided Porto to the Portuguese Cup and Europa League, beating domestic rivals Braga 1-0 in the latter, before being unveiled as the "next special one" at Chelsea in 2011. 

And so Pereira inherited his team of invincibles, barring Colombian hotshot Radamel Falcao, who headed to Atletico Madrid after scoring 72 goals across his two full campaigns in Portugal. 

Meanwhile, Barcelona had swept aside Manchester United for the second Champions League final in three seasons, serving up a stellar showing in a famous 3-1 win at Wembley. 

That set-up a juicy encounter between Barcelona and Porto in the UEFA Super Cup final at AS Monaco's Stade II. 

"Barcelona are the best team I have seen in my lifetime," Pereira unapologetically raved before the tie. 

Pep Guardiola before the UEFA Super Cup final in 2011. (Image by SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola before the UEFA Super Cup final in 2011. (Image by SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP via Getty Images)