Guardiola not content with trophy haul yet

Club World Cup champions Barcelona are preparing themselves for minnows L’Hospitalet in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie.

Barcelona will play the Segunda B team at the Camp Nou on Thursday with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is taking nothing for granted in the return fixture, however, preaching caution in the wake of their Club World Cup triumph over Brazilian champions Santos.

“We’re playing to not be eliminated from one of the remaining competitions,” Guardiola said, urging his players to be ‘attentive’ in what could prove to be ‘a very dangerous match’.

After beating Santos in the Club World Cup final, Barcelona have won an incredible 13 titles out of a possible 16.

“What one most admires is the continuity, the fact that we’ve been so competitive for so long,” said Guardiola.

“Thirteen out of 16 titles are stats that speak for themselves, you can only achieve them with a strong competitive mentality. It comes from that urge to go on, to play well.”

“If you’re here this long it’s because they are fantastic players. I’m not sure if they are aware of what they have accomplished, but in time they will be.”

“We are very content with the great game we played. We played a fantastic football game, and the whole world saw it.”

“The truth is that we minimized Santos’ great football. To win two titles like this in three years is reason enough to be satisfied. I can only congratulate these extraordinary players.”

With Barca being lauded as one of the best football sides of all time, Guardiola is humbled by the accolades.

“Well it’s an honour. But I repeat that really it’s not something I think about,” he said.

“But to be considered as being the best, considering those few that have had as much success, is for us, and for these players and basically for this club, something fantastic.”

For Guardiola, the enduring philosophy behind Barcelona’s football is the thing he loves the most.

“What I have always liked the most about us is how we play our football. It’s always the same,” he said.

“We like to give a good feeling to all football fans. I liked how Barcelona played. This for me is the most beautiful thing.”

“People can say whatever they want. Some are very generous in their compliments, some are more expressive (than) others but hey I liked how we play, that’s what makes me most proud.”