Iniesta: Barcelona's cycle of winning can go on for several years

Dec 28, 2012 8:45:00 AM

The midfielder has warned that the Blaugrana will not become a diminished force any time soon, and commented on the shock news on Tito Vilanova and his Ballon d'Or chances

Andres Iniesta believes Barcelona's current cycle of success can continue for many years to come.

The attacking midfielder has been at the heart of a Blaugrana side which has set the standard in European football over the past few seasons, and he is confident that the silverware will keep on coming.

Speaking in Albacete, where a new training centre has been named after him, he told RAC1: "We've had some very good years, at group level, with the titles ... The cycle continues.

"A cycle ends when you go years without winning. Last year, we won four titles. It's true we lost the Liga and the Champions League ... but the Barcelona cycle can continue for many years."

The Spain star revealed how he was stunned by the news of coach Tito Vilanova's cancer relapse, but echoed the words of Andoni Zubizarreta, the director of football at the club. when saying the team was brought closer together as a result.

"The news was a shock, because we returned to hear those words. But what happened gives us great inner strength," he said.

"These things, as Zubizarreta said, humanise the group. We are lucky to do what we love, we live a sensational life, but all of that surrounds us. Afterwards, we are all human, and we are exposed to the same."

The 28-year-old is one of the final three candidates for the Ballon d'Or, alongside team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, and Iniesta was coy on his chances of winning the prize.

"You're there and, therefore, you have your chances. I do not have to apologise for being there," he said.

Finally, he spoke of his desire to finish his career with at the club, but stressed it would depend on what he can contribute.

He added: "I want it to be at the club, but it will depend on the performance I can offer the team."