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Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme: Barcelona has been fortunate enough to bring together Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta & Xavi
The former Argentina international is impressed with the amount of talent at the Catalans' disposal, and feels that along with Real Madrid, they're well ahead of their rivals
Dec 20, 2011 6:55:00 AM
By Stefan Coerts
Getty Images
Boca Juniors star Juan Roman Riquelme has taken the time to praise Barcelona, and feels that coach Pep Guardiola have a unique group of players at present.
The Blaugrana added the Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet on Sunday after previously winning the European Supercup and Spanish Supercopa this term, and Riquelme feels it's nearly impossible to beat them.
"We all like watching Barcelona. They’ve been fortunate enough to bring together a group of players the likes of which will never be seen again in [Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi, [Gerard] Pique. All in the same team at the same time. It’s a stroke of fortune, but they’re a real joy to watch," Riquelme said on the FIFA website.
"If you come up against them in a knockout cup tie or over two legs and luck goes your way then you can edge past them. But they’re very unlikely to be beaten in a longer competition, like a league championship.
"I think the only coach who has managed to beat this Barcelona team is the guy who’s at Getafe [Luis Garcia], who beat them 1-0 recently and managed a draw with them last season when he was at Levante. That says it all."
The 33-year-old also believes that Barca's arch-rivals in La Liga are well ahead of the competition
"Barcelona and Real Madrid, although they have different styles, they are both way ahead of the rest," he remarked.
Riquelme was under contract with Barcelona from 2002 until 2005, but spent only one season with the Catalans before being loaned out to Villarreal.
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The Blaugrana added the Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet on Sunday after previously winning the European Supercup and Spanish Supercopa this term, and Riquelme feels it's nearly impossible to beat them.
"We all like watching Barcelona. They’ve been fortunate enough to bring together a group of players the likes of which will never be seen again in [Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi, [Gerard] Pique. All in the same team at the same time. It’s a stroke of fortune, but they’re a real joy to watch," Riquelme said on the FIFA website.
"If you come up against them in a knockout cup tie or over two legs and luck goes your way then you can edge past them. But they’re very unlikely to be beaten in a longer competition, like a league championship.
"I think the only coach who has managed to beat this Barcelona team is the guy who’s at Getafe [Luis Garcia], who beat them 1-0 recently and managed a draw with them last season when he was at Levante. That says it all."
The 33-year-old also believes that Barca's arch-rivals in La Liga are well ahead of the competition
"Barcelona and Real Madrid, although they have different styles, they are both way ahead of the rest," he remarked.
Riquelme was under contract with Barcelona from 2002 until 2005, but spent only one season with the Catalans before being loaned out to Villarreal.
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