Football: ‘Invincible’ Barca on top of the world
Argentine wizard Messi put Barcelona ahead in the 17th minute, exquisitely clipping a left-foot shot over goal-keeper Rafael Cabral after a clever ball from Xavi. Only seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Xavi himself latched on to a pinpoint pass from Dani Alves, beating one defender before smashing the ball home.
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas stabbed home Barca’s third on the stroke of halftime as the Spanish champions threatened to run riot in front of a crowd of 68,000. Player of the tournament Messi made it 4-0 eight minutes from time, bursting past Cabral at breath-taking speed to slip the ball into the net and complete the rout.
‘My players were like artists’
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was elated at the brilliant show put up by his team.
“My players were like artists,” said a delighted Guardiola. “Whatever they envisaged in their minds they were able to do on the pitch. It was an incredible performance.”
Santos coach Muricy Ramalho called Barcelona ‘invincible’ after his team were torn to shreds.
“Barcelona are the greatest team in the world,” he said. “No team can live with them. They’re unbeatable at the moment. Losing 4-0 to them is no disgrace.”
Barcelona, who won the title for the first time in Abu Dhabi in 2009, gave Santos no chance as hopes of a shootout between Messi and Brazil’s teenage sensation Neymar quickly evaporated.
Guardiola was happy that his players were able to keep Neymar quiet in the final.
“We try to control the midfield and exploit space,” he said. “We wanted to suffocate the supply to Neymar, who we know is a dangerous player.”
Messi was also a happy man after his team were crowned champions in such emphatic fashion.
“It’s beautiful to be world champions but it’s a team effort,” said Messi. “We often play like that but because it was a final it seemed more beautiful.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2011.
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