FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.07.2009 10:48

Pujol: “Barça is the national team of Catalonia”

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Jordi Pujol, a Barça member since 14 September 1948, thinks that “Barça is the national team of Catalonia” and that Guardiola’s side “is likeable, attractive and pleasant”.

The former President of Catalonia spoke about the club this Tuesday on the Barça TV programme ‘La nit al lloro'. He picked out in particular the link between Barça and Catalonia: “The identification of Barça with Catalonia is total. Catalonia does not have a national side, but the national team of Catalonia is Barça. There are lots of very good teams, such as Espanyol, but the team which brings together the spirit of the country most and by a considerable distance is Barça”.

“Home-grown side”

Pujol said that this year Barça had given the impression of being a “home-grown side” which “played the Rome final with seven academy players and others like Touré who have integrated well. You can’t build a side on the basis of names.”

Barça and the treble

Pujol defined the treble-winning Barça as “a triumphant Barça, a likeable, attractive and pleasant Barça, a great Barça”. Pujol was full of praise for Guardiola’s side though he admitted that he knew little about football.

The former President had words of praise for virtually all the players. “Iniesta and Xavi are extraordinary, and then there’s Messi and Eto'o, who’s been a really important player for Barça, and Puyol, who’s the symbol,” he said.

The Cruyff of politics?

After expressing his admiration for players like Ventolrà, Basora, César and Ramallets, interviewer Cristina Sala reminded him that Joan Laporta once said Jordi Pujol was the Johan Cruyff of politics. “Joan Laporta is very kind,” commented Pujol. “I think that’s a bit excessive as Cruyff is one of the greatest players of all time.”