Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was delighted at seeing his side win 1-0 in Mallorca\’s ONO stadium on Saturday night.
A 62nd minute goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovich meant Barcelona is only the second team to have won in Mallorca all season and the three points took Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga table.
Guardiola\’s side rode its luck in the first period, when Mallorca twice hit the woodwork but produced an impressive display in the second period to assure the points.
"I hope the team sees this is the way forward," said Guardiola on the club website on Sunday morning. "The tone of the team was great. We were very intense and the players took a lot fewer touches tonight. We are used to just steamrollering others and that\’s why their attitude tonight was so good," he said.
The win was even more impressive given that Leo Messi, who has scored 11 goals in his last six games, started on the substitutes\’ bench.
"It\’s never good to have to rest Leo, but he was very tired after the game against Osasuna the other day. He came on for half an hour and gave us a lot without getting tired. He\’s more than vital to us, but we need others to help as well," said the coach.
With Messi rested young wingers Pedro and Jeffren were given a chance to start and Guardiola was delighted with their displays.
"Pedro and Jeffren were very intense and really helped us," he said.
Source:Xinhua
