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Barcelona's Lionel Messi: We gave Santos no option in Club World Cup final
The Argentine forward scored twice in the Catalans' 4-0 win and says Pep Guardiola's men fully deserved their victory after dominating from the outset against the Brazilians
Dec 18, 2011 11:53:00 AM
By Ben Hayward
Shaun Boterill/FIFA
Lionel Messi believes Barcelona gave Santos no chance in Sunday's Club World Cup final in Japan.
Messi scored twice as the Catalans cruised to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over the Brazilians in the Sunday showpiece, with Xavi and Cesc Fabregas also on target.
Messi was the star of the show, however, with the first and fourth goals as Barca claimed its second Club World Cup success in the space of two years. The Argentine, who was named the competition's finest footballer, says a victory was the only outcome in Yokohama.
"We gave them no option," he told reporters after the game. "We are happy for the victory. The important thing is to show that when the team plays, we play very well. And we got the victory."
Whoever the rival, Messi says Barca just sets out to play its usual possession game, which has seen the club win 13 titles out of a possible 16 under Pep Guardiola.
"Our idea is always the same: to try to keep the ball, to control the game, to try to get as much ball possession as possible and today we got that," he added.
Barca lost the 2006 Club World Cup final in Japan, but the Catalans were successful in Abu Dhabi three years later and Messi hopes the side can return some time in the near future.
"The last time we came to Japan, we were treated very well," he revealed. "We are grateful for that. Hopefully we can return some time."
Messi scored twice as the Catalans cruised to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over the Brazilians in the Sunday showpiece, with Xavi and Cesc Fabregas also on target.
Messi was the star of the show, however, with the first and fourth goals as Barca claimed its second Club World Cup success in the space of two years. The Argentine, who was named the competition's finest footballer, says a victory was the only outcome in Yokohama.
"We gave them no option," he told reporters after the game. "We are happy for the victory. The important thing is to show that when the team plays, we play very well. And we got the victory."
Whoever the rival, Messi says Barca just sets out to play its usual possession game, which has seen the club win 13 titles out of a possible 16 under Pep Guardiola.
"Our idea is always the same: to try to keep the ball, to control the game, to try to get as much ball possession as possible and today we got that," he added.
Barca lost the 2006 Club World Cup final in Japan, but the Catalans were successful in Abu Dhabi three years later and Messi hopes the side can return some time in the near future.
"The last time we came to Japan, we were treated very well," he revealed. "We are grateful for that. Hopefully we can return some time."
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Santos - Fluminense FC
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