Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola Praises 'Unique' Players After Primera Liga Success

Posted Monday, May 17, 2010 by Goal.com

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praised the efforts of his players after they were crowned Primera Liga champions for the second successive season following a 4-0 drubbing of Valladolid at Camp Nou.

"These players are an empire, they are unique. They make hard things easy. Getting 99 points and losing only one game is incredible. All thanks to the players. They are incredible," he was quoted as saying afterwards by AS.

Guardiola also congratulated title rivals Real Madrid on an excellent season and said that without Madrid pushing them all the way, they would not have achieved the record-breaking 99 point total and launched a thinly veiled attack at the Madrid media in the process.

"I congratulate the coach and players of Real Madrid, because they have dignified the profession and the league. And again, I congratulate them, but only them, the coach and the players, only them," he stated.

"We are discreet in the celebration of these things. We are not arrogant but we have long heard something we should not. These voices have been very loud but they should have respect for these players. Many things have been said that [my players] do not deserve. It is part of the game, but we remain silent.

"Without a Madrid so good we would not have gotten 99 points and without a strong Barca, Real Madrid would not have had so many points. They have plenty of money and are able to make great squads but will again be our biggest rivals next year."

Finally Guardiola praised the Barcelona fans and reiterated his belief that Lionel Messi is the best player in world football.

"Thanks to the fans for their generosity, coming to support us every day. Messi is the best I've seen, I have no doubt. He has the genes of a winner, a great ambition. At 3-0, with the league in the bag, he kept pressing, he is unique," he remarked.