FC BARCELONA

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said he was "surprised" Pep Guardiola's decision to leave the bench of FC Barcelona.

"For me it is a surprise to see Guardiola left Barcelona. May not be the best time to take such an important decision, just one week after living with so many disappointments," Wenger said in a statement included in the team's website in London.

Alsatian coach also believes that "the philosophy of Barcelona has to be bigger than winning or losing a championship." "Guardiola is one of the representatives of this philosophy and the person who did it succeed," said Wenger. The coach of the "gunners" also explained that he had "loved to see this philosophy insisting Guardiola on the bench for Barcelona after a disappointing year," which would be "interesting."

The Catalan coach, who left Barcelona after four years full of successes and triumphs that won 13 titles, will take a year out of football, a decision that Wenger "understands". "Believe me, if anyone understands feeling the pressure Guardiola that's me," said French. "I can understand that there are some coaches who take career breaks," he said. "From the outside you can not really see what a man suffers. Perhaps he has not shown much stress, but it sure has felt. I understand that you take some time to rest and reflect," said Wenger.

The French coach who joined Arsenal in 1996, said he decided to do "the opposite of Guardiola," not taking any rest in his long career. "The work ends up being your life, but I understand why some people have to rest from time to time," the Alsatian. (via SPORT)

The 'gunner' on his personal blog described his admiration for Messi and Guardiola way of working.

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, said yesterday in his personal blog at Eurosport your favorite to win the Champions League is FC Barcelona. The Frenchman admitted as an admirer of the azulgranas game and especially the philosophy, style and manner of making Pep Guardiola.

"Neither Milan or Bayern Munich will win Madrid and Barcelona. In my view, Barça is the favorite to win the Champions League, "said convinced, also did not hesitate to place the quality of Leo Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo," even without a match play in top form, is capable scoring two goals. "Wenger has shown in his own flesh as "really hard to play without allowing a goal against Barça and Guardiola, this allows a great psychological advantage."

As to Mr. Santpedor, the gunner `did he say that" it is a coach of principles and strong convictions, able to print your personality and your decision to exceptional players, I think it would succeed in any other team. What is achieved and the level that you are doing is simply amazing. The only drawback I can think Guardiola is that expectations are the same for the rest of his career. " (via SPORT)

The Arsenal coach accused midfielder azulgrana of 'teatrero' praise despite its tactical intelligence.

Arsene Wenger does not forget Barça and, this time, his eye on Sergio Busquets has to openly accused him of 'teatrero' in statements collected by Eurosport.

"He pretends to have been hurt, when in fact it was he hit. Has all the moral weaknesses that help in football. And of course, intelligence does help the team," he said.

For Arsenal coach quality Sergio Busquets is unquestionable and is considered a "generous player and tactically very strong you know how to speed up the passing game fast" but still believes his intelligence also takes its relationship with the referee. "He knows how to force the umpires to warn those who are rivals," he said.

Wenger recognized Busquets as a basic pillar of the Barça scheme especially in the actions of strategy "height" and noted that the azulgranas will "need" in this type of action as the template height culé sins, and therefore "very vulnerable" in this section tactics.

"It's one of the few on the computer that exceeds six feet. Except him, no one can really defend strategy into action," he said. (via SPORT)

Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger said he lived the happiest moment in 2011 when FC Barcelona beat at the Emirates Stadium.

The Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger said in the website of the English club's 2-1 victory last February before which later became the champion of the Champions League meant for him one of the greatest joys of the year.

"The match against Barcelona has been perhaps the best game we've played here. For me, it was a highlight," said French.

"When I look back, this has not been the easiest year of my career. The end of last season was more complicated than the beginning," he added.

"This season we've had a tough time but we can still fight for something," he said. (via SPORT)