- Samuel Eto'o says he deserves credit for Pep Guardiola's Barcelona success - not Lionel Messi
- Eto’o scored 36 times in 52 games, including the first goal against Man United in the UCL final
- Messi netted 38 goals in 51 games the same season as Barca cruised to a 2-0 win over United in Rome
Samuel Eto'o believes he contributed more to Pep Guardiola's success story at Barcelona than Lionel Messi.
According to Give Me Football, citing an interview with beIN Sports, the 38-year-old Cameroonian, who spent one season under the Spaniard insists he deserves credit for Guardiola’s success during the 2008-09 season and not Messi.
Eto’o scored 36 times in 52 games that season, including the first goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final.
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On the other hand, Messi scored 38 goals in 51 games the same season, including the second after Eto'o’s opener as they cruised to a 2-0 win over United in Rome - and went on to claim his first Ballon d’Or award.
Interestingly, Guardiola managed Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, a period the Catalan side were widely acknowledged as world’s best club in recent years.
At the last count, in four season, under Guardiola, Barca won two Copas del Rey silverware, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups and two Champions Leagues and three league titles
After winning major honours, Guardiola left Nou Camp in 2012, to the bitter disappointment of lovers of the club.
Guardiola admitted he was able to succeed at the Camp Nou due to the quality of players that includes the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi all in the same squad.
But Eto’o insists it was him - not Messi - who motivated Barcelona to glory that season.
The former African footballer of the year also explained Guardiola ‘didn’t understand the squad’ during their stay at Nou Camp.
“Pep Guardiola has lived his whole life in Barcelona, but in the years I spent there he didn’t understand the squad. He didn’t live the life of our group,” Eto’o said.
“I said to Guardiola: ‘you’ll apologise to me because it’s me that will make Barcelona win - not Lionel Messi’.
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“It was the situation back then. Messi would come later.
“You can ask Xavi, Andres Iniesta and all the others - that was my era. It was me that made Barcelona win and Guardiola would ask me for forgiveness,” submitted Eto’o, who presently plays for Qatar SC.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Samuel Eto'o believes African coaches are treated as second class citizens in spite of their rich qualifications and experiences.
The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker claims their (African coaches) chances of securing top managerial jobs in Europe are limited owing to lack of confidence.
Eto'o, who won four African player of the year awards during his active football career confirm some black players are skeptical of going into coaching because of this major reason.
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