Guardiola: Barcelona ´did too much running´

Pep Guardiola found an unusual way to critique his Barcelona side after a 5-0 win over Mallorca, complaining the players worked too hard.

A Lionel Messi hat-trick, together with goals from Dani Alves and newcomer Isaac Cuenca, saw the La Liga champions dispatch their opponents with ease in Saturday’s match at Camp Nou.

And with a trip to face Viktoria Plzen coming up in the Champions League clash on Tuesday, the Barca coach felt his team did not need to have exerted themselves so much.

“We did too much running. I would have liked us to have made less effort,” Guardiola said.

On a more positive note, Guardiola considered the goal scored by home-grown winger Cuenca on his second appearance for the first team another success for Barca’s famed youth system, as was the debut of fellow academy graduate Gerard Deulofeu.

“Isaac played very well, he is a player who knows when he has to take on his man and when he has to pass the ball,” Guardiola said.

“He has scored his first goal in the ground and he played well.”

“We have (Ibrahima) Affelay injured, Pedro (Rodriguez) is out and David Villa is also struggling, so we need players such as Isaac and Gerard.”

“They know they are prepared to play here. Gerard has a way to go still, but we needed his participation. So they know that when we have players injured they will get their chance.”

“What makes me proud is that we have worked hard here for four years. If there are players in the youth teams who can help us, that is thanks to the work of a lot of people.”

“We have a small squad, but we have a B-team and player from there that we can use if we need.”