Cruyff: “As long as there is happiness in the team,” Pep will stay

Former Barca player and manager Johan Cruyff reflected on Barça’s brilliant performance in FIFA Club World Cup in Yokohama, Japan, which saw the Catalan club win the championship for the second time. As the guest star on TV3 show Hat Trick Barça, Cruyff highlighted the importance of manager Pep Guardiola in the team once more. According to Cruyff, the secret ingredient that keeps Pep at Barça is the passion and the happiness that surrounds the dressing room. An extract of the interview can be found here.

Talking about the 4-0 win over Santos FC, Cruyff described it as a “historic game“. “I think today was the first time that someone outplayed a Brazilian team that way“, he said. “It takes a lot of courage to play a three-man defense against Real Madrid and then Santos, and it requires to have the right men for the job. It would be difficult to do that without Guardiola.”

About Pep and Barça’s future, Cruyff said that he was convinced that Pep will stay for many years, “as long as there is happiness in the team. You have to enjoy life and your job“. But he added that Pep’s relationship with the players, the good atmosphere among the players, and their willingness to commit and sacrifice for the team will be key ingredients to keep the titles and victories coming.

Asked about differences between the current Barça squad and his “Dream Team”, Cruyff mentioned that this modern Barca is used to pressing higher up the ground: “The team has talent, has pace and they are also willing to defend and add constant pressure on rivals.” He added, ”The squad might be a bit short, but it has fantastic players, great talent, and it  it is important that each player gets game time.”

With regards to Lio Messi, judged the tournament’s best player, Cruyff said that “Messi is the best.  He is also humble, and it’s important that kids can have a role model in him, or in Xavi, or Iniesta“. Regarding the upcoming FIFA Ballon d’Or award, Cruyff said that he would give it “to Messi, because of the show he is able to put on a football field… but as conductor of this orchestra, I would give it to Xavi“.