Saturday, 27 August 2011

Fulsome praise for record-breaking Barca

Barcelona received fulsome praise on Saturday after Friday's European Super Cup 2-0 defeat of Porto, with many sections of the Spanish media actually starting to ask whether Pep Guardiola's side should now be considered the best team in football history.

The media agreed that Barca were not at their sparkling best in Monte Carlo - La Vanguardia described them on Saturday as "below par but still very effective" - with most papers blaming the appalling state of the Louis II pitch for this.

However, they agreed that Lionel Messi and company were far superior to Porto - and are making history with their slick style and new records.

Astonishingly, Guardiola's team have won 12 out of the 15 competitions they have been in since the young coach was asked to take over a talented but stuttering squad in 2008.

This means that Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in football history, alongside the true greats like Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein, Brian Clough, Helenio Herrera and Arrigo Sacchi.

The Super Cup win meant that Guardiola is now the Barca coach with most titles to his name, 12 - suprassing the 11 of his mentor, Johann Cruyff, who was on the Barca bench from 1988 to 1996.

Guardiola has guided the team, in his remarkable reign, to one Club World Cup, two Champions Leagues, two European Super Cups, three Spanish leagues, three Spanish Super Cups and one Spanish cup.

In addition, the triumph in Monaco meant that Barca have now overtaken historic rivals Real Madrid on trophies, 74 to 73.

Catalan radio station RAC-1 stated on Saturday that "now nobody can deny that this is the best team ever."

Guardiola won praise from Madrid papers Marca and AS for, straight after the final whistle, telling the Barca fans not to sing derogatory songs about Real Madrid.

Radio Marca on Saturday called him "a real gentleman...trying to bring peace to Spanish football."

Friday's victory broke two other records for Barca. 

Little playmaker Xavi overtook 1990s midfielder Guillermo Amor as the Barca player with most trophies to his name, 18 to 17.

And by scoring the first goal in Monte Carlo, Messi established the unprecedented record of having scored in every club competition in which he has played.

Messi was singled out for special praise on Saturday. Not only did he score the first goal but he elegantly set up the second one for supersub Cesc Fabregas.

The arrival of Fabregas - after a three-year struggle to leave Arsenal -of Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez, together with the elevation of youngsters like Thiago from the club's legendary youth programme, led several papers on Saturday to predict that Guardiola's team might even become more effective this season.

Catalan daily Sport on Saturday said: "It is difficult to know where is the limit for this team, which might actually be able to raise itself to greater heights because of the new players that have come in."

What a terrifying - but also tantalising - prospect for Spanish and European football.

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