FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.07.2009 16:12

India enjoying Barça stay

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The Indian national team are revelling in their stay in Barcelona as they make full use of the offer to use the Blaugrana’s training facilities and coach Bob Houghton took time out to praise Pep Guardiola and his team.

“All the players are pleased to be here in Barcelona and it has really lifted and motivated them,” the trainer told Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat. “It is an honour to be able to train on the same pitch where the players of Barça, especially Lionel Messi, train regularly.”

Preparing for their participation in the Asian Cup, the Indian squad did not want to miss the chance to have a look around Camp Nou and visited the FC Barcelona Museum and went on the stadium tour, that took them to the dressing rooms, press area and on to the side of the pitch.

Experienced coach

Houghton has trained Swedish side Malmo, among others, during his career and guided them to the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. That side was made up completely of homegrown players and the coach does not believe splashing the cash is always the answer. “You do not need to spend lots of money on signings if you can produce your own players,” he explained.

The English boss also has previous experience at international having taken charge of China and Uzbkistan before accepting the task of coaching India.

Praising Guardiola

Barça’s treble-winning season was also something Houghton admired and he was full of praise for Guardiola. “As well as the technical side of things, I also value the psychological, mental and moral side of a team because that can have a great effect,” he stated. “Maybe because he did not finish playing long ago, Guardiola knew how to deal with the players and maintain harmony in his squad.”