Image Credit- The New York Times.
Under Josep Guardiola, FC Barcelona was the epitome of 'tiki-taka'; opponents could not even get the ball off them, much less score. While Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona team did win the UEFA Champions League in 2005–06, but it was Guardiola, a former midfield player, who made them a legendary team. Guardiola's team won 14 of the 19 events they entered in his four years in charge, including six titles in his inaugural season of 2008–09, which included the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Liga, and Copa del Rey in addition to the Spanish Super Cup.
Even though the haul was impressive, Guardiola gave debuts to 22 players who, like himself, had trained at Barcelona. This may have had greater significance. When the club defeated Manchester United FC 3-1 at Wembley in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League final, Sir Alex Ferguson had nothing but admiration for them: "They are the best team we've faced in my time as a manager." The team also helped make Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, and Lionel Messi household names. Nobody has ever treated us that poorly. It's a wonderful time for them. They like playing football and do it the right way, therefore they deserve it."
Guardiola did not create "tiki-taka"; rather, Luis Aragonés' winning Spain team at UEFA EURO 2008 employed a variation of the style, holding possession high up the field and trying to dismantle opponents with deft, fast passes. But it was Guardiola's attack-mindedness that refined the approach.
His 4-3-3 formation was full of skill, with Messi and Iniesta hemming opponents in and keeping the ball flowing. "There is no team in the world that has played with as many players in the opposing half as Barcelona do," said Víctor Fernández, the former coach of RC Celta de Vigo. There was no difference between attack and defense; as long as you didn't throw the ball away, you didn't need to defend.
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