Barcelona are the best team in the world, declares Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has described Barcelona as the best team in the world following their 9-0 Copa del Rey thrashing of Hospitalet on Thursday.

Barcelona led 1-0 from the first leg but ruthlessly eliminated their Segunda Division opponents, with Isaac Cuenca netting a second-half brace at Camp Nou.

Following the victory, the 40-year-old manager paid tribute to his players after another sparkling year in which Guardiola’s side lifted five trophies.

“The way my players behaved shows why we are so admired and why we have been the best team in the world this year,” said Guardiola. “If we have won admirers it is because of displays like this.”

Guardiola’s side retained their La Liga title in May before lifting the Champions League after beating Manchester United in the final at Wembley.

Barcelona then defeated Real Madrid in a thrilling Spanish Super Cup encounter in August and added the European Super Cup to their cabinet courtesy of a 2-0 win over Porto in Monaco.

And despite winning the Club World Cup with a 4-0 victory over Santos in Japan last Sunday, Barcelona refused to underestimate the threat posed by Hospitalet and fielded a strong team.

However, even though Cesc Fàbregas and Xavi both bagged a goal, it was Cuenca who impressed Guardiola most as the striker scored twice to help Barcelona move into the next round of the Spanish Cup.

“He’s been impeccable all year,” he said. “We hope that with humility, the behaviour of being seen and talking little, that he will be ready and as a player, be at the required level.”

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