Guardiola savours Barcelona title

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was enjoying the moment after his side claimed a third successive Primera Division title.



A 1-1 draw at Levante was enough to ensure Barca could not be caught by second-placed Real Madrid. Guardiola's men are now six points ahead of Real with two games remaining, but boast the better head-to-head record, which is the deciding factor if the teams are level on points.



Guardiola said: "After a difficult season we've competed against a great team (Real) and now we should enjoy what we've achieved. We want to enjoy it, eat well, dance a lot, sing a lot ... do a lot of everything.''



Barca can now concentrate on preparations for the forthcoming Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley.



"Now is the time to party, that's what winning this title deserves, and we have time to prepare for the final in London,'' Guardiola added. "We have to really savour this and celebrate it with family and friends. These are things that you never forget.



"I also hope people have enjoyed watching us play, that would be the best reward. In the league the reality is that if you are champions at the end it's because you deserve it. Once again we have done an excellent job in this competition.



"I dedicate the title to the squad. We've done things really well and all this is thanks to the players and the effort they've made. They are unique. They are an enormously strong bunch of players.''



However, Guardiola claimed it was not all smooth sailing for his side, who suffered with injuries towards the end of the campaign.



"Three-quarters of the season was spectacular," he said. "At the end we've not been quite so good, but we've always continued being competitive.



"There are things to improve. We need to take into account the incredible schedule these players have had over the last two years.



"We've also had a lot of difficulties with regards absentees. Every year it takes a huge effort (to win the league), and this is the lesson.''



Lionel Messi said: "I'm very happy because it's been a very tough title. It's taken a lot of hard work to be champions and more so against a great rival like Real Madrid. Now we have to enjoy it.''



Barca midfielder Xavi was delighted after becoming only the third Barca player to win six league titles, following in the wake of Antoni Ramallets (between 1947-1960) and Guardiola (1990-1999).



"It's taken a lot of hard work and this team deserves a lot of credit. We need to congratulate everyone associated with Barcelona,'' he said in AS. "The fans deserve it and I imagine that today we will celebrate with them in the streets.''



Captain Carles Puyol now has five Primera Division winners' medals. The Spain centre-back, who missed the game at Levante, said: "I have to be calm but I'm very happy, it's different when you experience it from outside.



"I've been in the stands but I'm very pleased. We've worked very hard and today we've got the rewards. Now to celebrate it and rest a little to prepare for the (Champions League) final.''



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Guardiola : Andres Iniesta is 100% Out

Barcelona have confirmed that influential midfielder Andres Iniesta will be out of tonight’s Champions League semi against Real Madrid.

The World Cup winning midfielder, who did not train with the Spanish champions due to a calf injury, joined his team-mates for the first 10 minutes of this evening’s workout at the Bernabeu before departing for further treatment.

“Iniesta is 100% out,” Guardiola said of the 26-year-old.

A statement on fcbarcelona.cat confirmed: “Andres Iniesta will miss the semi-finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid. He has some discomfort in the right calf which has not allowed him to train with the group on Tuesday.”

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Barcelona are not through yet - Guardiola

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has warned that his side's Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk is not over despite seeing his side build a 5-1 first leg lead over the Ukrainian side.



Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Xavi were the goalscorers for Barca while Shakhtar's reply came from a Yaroslav Rakitskiy strike when they were already 3-0 down.



Barca are now huge favourites to progress through and, barring a huge upset in both games, in the semi-finals will meet arch rivals Real Madrid, who hold a 4-0 lead over Tottenham following their quarter-final first leg.



If that does happen, then Barca and Madrid will face each other four times in a matter of 19 days as they also have a league encounter and the Copa del Rey final to contest.



Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu admitted after the match that he thought the semi-finals were now beyond his side, saying: "I think the tie is already decided and they are going through."



However, Guardiola, whose side was pushed hard by Shakhtar, has warned against complacency.



He said: "I'm more than happy but I'm aware that this isn't over. We must take things very seriously. Shakhtar are one of the best teams I've ever seen."



Guardiola highlighted his side's recent Copa del Rey quarter-final against Real Betis as a reason not to get carried away.



In that tie Barca recorded a 5-0 win in the first leg but had a nervy time of it in the return meeting as they found themselves 2-0 down after seven minutes and 3-1 down at half-time.



"We still remember the 5-0 against Betis and how bad we had it there in the cup," he said.



Despite the absence of several key players, Guardiola paid tribute to the competitive spirit of his side.



"We are a little short at the back as with the absences of Abidal and Puyol we're missing important players with pace and we need to replace that with other qualities," he continued. "Having said that, the players at my disposal are physical animals and if there's one thing they know it's how to compete."



Lucescu, meanwhile, admitted that he has not expected such a defeat.



"We weren't expecting this," he said. "We have a great team that can play much better than we did. I decided not to close up and defend. I decided to try and play, to catch them out. But when we had a chance to score we missed it and they instantly went 1-0 up with an incredible goal from Iniesta that changed everything.



"We did get ourselves back into it – we fought our way into the game but went on failing to convert our opportunities. In contrast, Barça know exactly how to provoke errors in your defending – they are so smart. They were clinical in taking their own chances, grew in confidence and, I think, the tie is already decided and they are going through.



"But we will use this experience to grow, to learn and we will attempt to win the home leg in front of more than 50,000 fans who want to see us playing with style. We have lost to a footballing machine and they know how to guard this lead in the second leg but I know we can be very positive and play much better next week."



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Pedro Hails ‘Brilliant’ Pep Guardiola

Barcelona winger Pedro has declared that he is happy playing for coach Pep Guardiola.

Under Guardiola, the 23 year old Spanish international has won everything available in club football.

Pedro told the UEFA website : “Guardiola is a brilliant coach and a very intelligent person who has everything under control,”.

“He talks a lot to the players and he has known this club for a very long time. He knows what’s going on, both in the youth teams and in the first team, and that’s why I think he’s doing so well.”

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