Cruyff: ‘Barca deserved La Liga’

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff believes the Blaugrana deserved to win this season’s La Liga title “100 per cent”.

Speaking at a promotional event, the former Barca player and Coach said the performances put on by Luis Enrique’s men this term have helped fans forget the disappointment of last year.

“Nobody can say that Barcelona didn’t deserve it 100 per cent, although there were times when the team lacked a little control,” claimed the Dutchman.

“They were trying to create more space for the forwards, as they play very well on the counter-attack, and it meant trying to recover the ball further back, which is risky.

“But things have gone well whereas last year there were a lot of small things that were wrong, several complaints, economic problems, things that spoiled the situation somewhat.

“The only way to forget that is to achieve what we’ve achieved this season.”

Cruyff said he is unsure whether Luis Enrique will continue on the bench at the Camp Nou next term, whilst also commenting on the Argentine’s reportedly strained relationship with Lionel Messi.

“I don’t know if he’ll carry on because I don’t know how he feels personally. If you look at results it’s been a good season so you have to say he shouldn’t go, but he may have his doubts.

“Messi is very important to the team, not only in a football sense but in the way he conducts himself. I’m not saying he doesn’t like Luis Enrique. Do you think I’d go to work with someone I disliked?

“Leo is the best and he wouldn’t accept it if someone came in who couldn’t eventually be a success.”

The 58-year-old went on to say he regretted the criticism of former boss Pep Guardiola from some sections of the Press, following his Bayern Munich team’s Champions League semi-final elimination at the hands of Barcelona.

“People always believe what they want to believe. We live in Catalonia and we saw what the Press wrote about Guardiola, how he was treated after all he’s won, and we’ve got to forget about that.”

Finally, Cruyff had words regarding eternal rivals Real Madrid, who will finish the season empty-handed.

“They haven’t brought in what they had to bring in, that’s obvious, and it’s a joint problem between the board, Coach and players.

“The evidence is there that things have not worked out as they should have,” he maintained.

Tags Cruyff Luis Enrique
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