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Guardiola key to Barca dominance
By
Tim
– December 18, 2011Posted in: Uncategorized

The 4-0 victory over Santos was another demonstration of the dominance of Barcelona in the world game, two years after their first triumph in the Club World Cup, and in particular their style of play showed the crucial role of Pep Guardiola.

While the players have rightly been praised again for the quality of their play, their technique and quick passing which was taught in la masia, Lional Messi was congratulated for becoming the second player after Pedro to score in all the competitions in one year, this side has Guardiola’s philosophy stamped on it which has been vindicated once again.

When Guardiola arrived at Barca, the team had just finished second to Real Madrid and had more than a few problems on and off the pitch. Of course it was easier for Guardiola to come in to this complicated environment as he was first of all a Catalan and also because he had been the idol of Cruyff’s Dream Team of the early 1990s, but still the turnaround at the club has been amazing.

Guardiola hasn’t invented anything at Barcelona, he has maintained the principles of trying to beat the opposition by playing football and this means out passing them. He added to this an obsession with organisation and planning. He has also been incredibly lucky though to have inherited a side with amazing potential and a player like Messi that comes along only once a generation.

Guardiola has kept true to his philosophy throughout and as his mentor Johan Cruyff says, the team would not be where they are without him.

“To play with three defenders depends on the quality of the players but also you have to be brave enough to field them. Without Pep it would be difficult to see Barca playing this way,” he said.

Guardiola refuses to sign contracts longer than a year refusing to put pressure on himself or the club but Cruyff doesn’t think he will go any time soon.

“As long as he is happy then he will stay. You have to enjoy life and what you are doing,” he said. “Guardiola has players who sacrifice themselves for the team and you need to have that mentality.

“The difference between this side and my team is that this one pressures more and plays the ball at a higher tempo. This is a small squad but it has a lot of quality and it is important that each player has the chance to play.”

Cruyff was also full of praise of Messi.

“You cannot compare Neymar with him at the moment as Neymar is very young, a good footballer with a good head on his shoulders and Messi is the best in the world,” he said.

“The problem for Real Madrid is that they are in the same league as Barcelona as in any other they would be champion. Mourinho is a coach who is looking for his own personal glory as a trainer and very different to Guardiola. For Guardiola he wants to give all the praise to the players.

“Similarly for Ronaldo he plays a different style to that of Barcelona so I wouldn’t sign him. He looks to always show that he is very good and in Barca they are all very good. Messi is the best, he is humble and shows the kids the way to behave like Xavi or Iniesta. For his ability I would make him the winner of the Balon d’or but also Xavi as the director of the orchestra.”