I Want A Bigger Barcelona Squad Next Season - Pep Guardiola

Barcelona might have won every title available to them this season but Pep Guardiola is already looking to improve next year, declaring that he wants a bigger squad.

The Catalans made history on Wednesday, when they became the first Spanish side to win the treble after lifting the Champions League in Rome.

The coach is not about to rest on his laurels, though, and told the press that he wants more players at his disposal after the summer.

"The fixture list next year will be very tight, there will almost not be time to coach and, as it will be shortened further by the World Cup, there will be nearly 70 games and I think it would be better to have a larger squad," Marca quote him as saying.

The coach went on to state that it is "always necessary to incorporate new players" but said he did not want to be drawn on who might leave or come in.

"When one wins a lot in the first year, the second is not the same. The second is always more difficult, we will see if we are lucky and lose some games at the start to put us back into shape," he joked.

"We must keep in mind that this is a mentally stable and young team, who can go for some years more."

With regards to the future of Samuel Eto'o at the club, again the coach did not want to speak too much about it, but he said they will discuss his deal soon.

"He is a very important player and I am delighted with him, but I will not speak publicly about transfers. We will speak with him soon, we will speak privately and we will let it be known what happens," he explained.

Personally, Guardiola said that he will "digest the success" he has had in his first season, and whilst he assured everyone that he will be at Barca next year, he said he did not want to commit too far into the future.

"Next year I will be here and then, if the club is happy, and I am as well, we will continue together, and if not, we won't. One must not get drawn into long contracts," he declared.

Finally, the coach responded to claims made by some commentators that Barcelona are the best team in the world, refusing to acknowledge that they are.

"I do not know if we are the best team in the world. We are the team who has had the best year, but I do not know if we are the best in the world. I also know that I am not the best coach in the world," he said.

"In terms of odds, no-one in the hundred year history of Barcelona had done it [the treble], and nor in Spanish football, so I did not think we would do it. It has been a surprise for everyone, but the team has worked fantastically."

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com

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