Cruyff: Guardiola lost Barca board

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff says Pep Guardiola lost the support of the club’s hierarchy when Sandro Rosell became president.

The Dutchman, who has had a running feud with Rosell since he ousted Joan Laporta to take charge in 2010, said the change made it difficult for the outgoing coach.

“Guardiola almost made perfect decisions, and he had the support of club’s higher-ups to protect him,” Cruyff told El Periodico.

“After the elections, that was all gone.”

Guardiola, who has won 13 trophies in a four-year spell, will leave Camp Nou to take a break from the game after Friday’s Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

And Cruyff believes the match will mark the end of an era for the club.

“With Guardiola’s exit, a cycle ends, because he was the one who had all the control,” he said.

“It would be nice if he could end this cycle by winning the Copa del Rey.”