Tabarez: Barcelona are the best I have ever seen

Dec 26, 2012 11:00:00 PM

The Uruguay coach has praised the club’s long-term strategy for success and hailed Brazil's appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari

Oscar Tabarez says the current Barcelona side is the best he has ever seen.

The Catalan club were hugely successful during Pep Guardiola’s four-year tenure, and now - under Tito Vilanova - they have romped to the top of La Liga and are strong favourites to win the Champions League.

Tabarez, whose South American side will face the likes Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique in the summer in their 2013 Confederations Cup group, believes Barca have earned their success due to a strategy of long term investment.

"Football is becoming more global all the time, which is why other influences emerge that are linked to organisational factors," he told Fifa.com. "These could be economic reasons, youthndevelopment systems or lengthy projects whose roots go back many years.

"Barcelona are a clear example of that. We’re all spellbound by how expressive their football is, which is the best I’ve ever seen.

"But it didn’t come about in two or three years, did it? Playing football like Barcelona isn’t as simple as seeing a suit you like in a shop window, going inside and buying it.

"Football’s not like that. In football you have to find the right material, the buttons and the right tailor, then you have the suit made and it still might not look the same [as in the shop window]. That process takes a lot of time, knowledge and preparation."

Uruguay enter the Confederations Cup as Copa America winners, and they have been drawn with World Cup winners la Roja, Tahiti and an African nation that has yet to be decided.

"Our objective, first and foremost, is to enjoy it," Tabarez admitted. "Every time an international competition featuring such important teams comes around, you hold out hopes of going as far as possible.

"We’re well aware that we’re going to face some great teams. Spain are currently setting the standard, they’re winning the biggest tournaments of them all [and] the way they play is the envy of everyone else and they’re having a big influence on the game at the moment.

"Whichever African team makes it will be a powerful side. And Tahiti deserve plenty of respect and will provoke a lot of curiosity too - let’s see what role they’ll play."

Brazil also enter the competition as hosts ahead of the 2014 World Cup and Tabarez praised the recent appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"Essentially, he brings the coaching ability he’s already proven on many occasions," the Celeste coach continued.

"And what’s more, he offers both wide-ranging experience and specific knowledge of the national team, which is a very unusual environment."

"It [international management] is a difficult enough job as it is, but Brazil is where I think it’s hardest."

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