Pep Guardiola: Barcelona players as hungry as ever for more titles

Posted Friday, December 30, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says that his players still have an insatiable desire for silverware.

The recent Club World Cup triumph in Japan means that the club has now won 13 trophies since the former Barca B coach took charge of the senior side in the summer of 2008.

However, despite the remarkable run of success, Guardiola claims his players remain as motivated as ever.

"It is perhaps the best compliment a coach can receive,” the former midfielder said during an interview with Doha Stadium Plus Qatar. “After the technical skills and the vision comes hunger. It is the most important factor at this level. Hunger makes you better. It's what makes the engine run. After 13 titles, they still burn with ambition.”

When it came to further analyzing the effectiveness of his side’s possession based game, Guardiola underlined the importance of midfield duo Sergio Busquets and Xavi, and center back Carles Puyol.

"Some of our defenders, like Dani Alves, attack a lot,” he said. “This only works when players like Busquets and Xavi control the midfield. Almost all of our attacks begin with Xavi and he does it fantastically well. Moreover, we have a reliable central defender in Puyol and that helps a lot."

Guardiola also acknowledged the role of the club’s renowned academy, La Masia, in the current era of dominance.

"We are proud to have played a Champions League final with eight players from our home,” he admitted. “They have been learning to play in the philosophy of the club, which we call the seal of La Masia.

“It does not matter where you come from either. [Lionel] Messi is Argentine but if you look at his style, it's all of a player of Barcelona. For our fans, is great to have players who they can automatically identify with.”

Since Guardiola took charge at Camp Nou three years ago, Barcelona has won two Champions Leagues, three Primera Division titles, two Club World Cups, one Copa del Rey, three Supercopas and two UEFA Super Cups.