Català

Salta el menu

Language menu


Award down to the collective effort


Top of page

Content

Link to related content

Football

10.01.2011 16:42

Award down to the collective effort

Roger Bogunyà


Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi gave a joint press conference this afternoon ahead of the FIFA Ballon D’Oro awards in Zurich and explained the prize one of them would receive was: “thanks to the whole collective”.


In front of a large and expectant media audience, the three Barça players, alongside manager Josep Guardiola and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque, spoke of the importance of the whole team above any individual merit, with Iniesta stressing: “on our own we are nothing”.

The third manager up for a FIFA award, José Mourinho, suffered a delay in his flight and was unable to make the press conference.

Xavi: “we want to share the prize”

2011-01-10_LLEGADA_13.JPGXavi, Iniesta and Messi repeated again and again that the award was a recognition of the work of the collective, especially of their Barça teammates: “we want to share the prize – it’s an individual award, but we are here thanks to a collective effort. In my case, I am very fortunate to be playing alongside the best players”, according to Xavi, whilst Iniesta reckoned: “today is a day to recall many people who have helped us get here”.

Guardiola explains success

2011-01-10_LLEGADA_12.JPGJosep Guardiola was asked why Barça had been so successful in this year’s awards and he responded: “they are very good players; that’s the first thing. Then they’ve had a stable and strong club with a lot of people working there. There are a lot of coaches, delegates, presidents…… all of them have participated in this process”.

Vicente del Bosque also stressed the importance of La Masia as a model to emulate: “there are five people sat here who are convinced of the value of home grown players. What’s happening here is a great success for the academy and everybody is very satisfied with that”.

A model to follow

2011-01-10_LLEGADA_11.JPGXavi believes Barça’s model is applicable elsewhere: “I think all the academies in the world could use our methods. In Barcelona we work with youngsters from 9 or 10 and instil the same concepts throughout their time at the club. Those are footballing ideas, but also respect and good manners. For me it’s the best school in the world”.
Award down to the collective effort

To view this content you need the latest version of the Flash Player


Club or country?
Xavi Hernández wouldn’t be drawn on whether it was Spain’s success in the World Cup or Barça’s great 2010 that had weighed most with the Ballon D’Oro judges: “I couldn’t give a figure for which is most important. Barça have given me everything and without the club I wouldn’t have made it to any World Cup. However, the way I’ve been treated by the international side has always been first rate too”.


Share with


Top of page

Back to top

Related content

Football News


Official sponsors


Copyright - FCBarcelona | Legal Terms | Buy tickets FC Barcelona | This is the FC Barcelona official website

Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | RSS


Back to top
Top of page