The European champion beat Argentina’s Estudiantes 2-1 after extra time to lift its sixth trophy this year, adding the world crown to La Liga, Champions League, King’s Cup and Spanish and European Super Cups.“Now we’re going to descend a bit from our stardom, but we have talent and we got here with hard work. We’re going to be alright,” he told the post-final news conference on Saturday.
“Six titles is unequaled, this brings more responsibility ... We have to continue working to remain among the elite. I’ll never forget it’s the players who achieved this and the ones who gain me my prestige [as a coach],” added Guardiola, who lost world club finals twice before with Barcelona, as a player in 1992 in the former Intercontinental Cup and as coach in 2006.
Guardiola’s big off-season signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic said: “Playing always to win, you have more chances of winning. One of the reasons I came to Barca was to win titles ... I hope we continue to win many more trophies.”
Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella, whose team was looking for its second world title, praised Barcelona’s “tactical variety” and “calmness.” He also pointed to their strength in depth, adding that not even injuries could throw it off its game as it had international players on the bench.
