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09.11.2008 12:35
Cruyff: “It is a pleasure to see Guardiola on the bench”
Míriam Nadal / Vanessa Forns
Saturday marked half a year since Laporta announced that Guardiola would be the new first team manager. One of the men who managed Guardiola as a player, Cruyff, spoke about what a pleasure it is for him to see his former charge now on the bench.
Following the amazing 6-0 win over Valladolid at the Camp Nou, the former Barça manager spoke to Barça TV about Josep Guardiola’s first six months in charge of the club. “What he is doing is great, step by step he is getting things done the way he thinks they should be done. He is taking care of all the details, and tries to get the best out of every player”, said the man who had the same job between 1988 and 1996.
Taste for good football
Johan Cruyff, who feels highly fortunate to have worked “with people of such high quality as Guardiola, Laudrup and Rijkaard, among others”, highlighted the way they all liked to “play good football. They try to get the fans to enjoy the way they play, and that gives added value. It is not just about winning the game, it’s something more. And that is what makes you feel most proud” he said.
Faithful to philosophy
Joan Laporta referred to the role Guardiola is playing as
first team manager. The Barça president explained that the decision to make the Catalan the boss
was highly related to the need to “stay faithful to our playing philosophy”.
Laporta: “He was the right man”
“We think he was the right man because of the knowledge he has. He is a man who
was born in Santpedor, a little town in Catalonia, and who had managed Barça Atlètic well, who
played at every level of our youth system, and who was promoted to the first team under Johan
Cruyff. He had the privilege of being coached by him and won four leagues and the Champions League
at Wembley. He then stayed on under Robson and Van Gaal”, reminisced Laporta.
Making his own mark
The president also feels both FC Barcelona and Guardiola are “involved in a very nice story”. Joan Laporta believes his new manager “can take advantage of the good work done” by “making his own mark”, which he hopes will lead to a host of triumphs for the club.
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Begiristain: “It was the right decision”
Txiki Begiristain, as he said in an article published in ‘Barça Camp Nou', spoke about the
reasons why the club chose Pep Guardiola as the replacement for Frank Rijkaard on the first team
bench. His “Barça experience” most certainly had a lot to do with the decision. The
director of football is especially pleased with the way Guardiola has assembled such an effective
squad in such a short time. “He has assimilated perfectly, and that’s what you want
from your coach” said Begiristain, who also reaffirmed his conviction that selecting
Guardiola was the right decision.
