Pep’s Barcelona stir the blood

WHEN the Champions League trophy had been hauled around Wembley and the colourful Catalan hordes had sung themselves hoarse, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was asked a question which resonated in bars from Las Ramblas to Las Vegas.

Are Barcelona the greatest team ever to play the world’s most popular sport?

“It is impossible to say,” was his humble verdict after his Barcelona side had dismantled English league champions Manchester United. “I didn’t see the Real Madrid of (Alfredo) Di Stefano and the Ajax of (Johan) Cruyff. We try to play as well as possible. I hope in the next 10 or 15 years the people will remember this team and have enjoyed them.”