Henrik Larsson isn’t unfamiliar to the kind of pressure felt by a Barcelona player. One of Ronald Koeman‘s assistant coaches is relishing the challenge of being back at the Camp Nou.
The Swede spent two years at the Catalan club between 2004 and 2006, returning last summer as part of Koeman‘s backroom staff.
After a difficult start to the season, the Blaugrana are one of the favourites to win LaLiga Santander in the coming weeks.
“Well, we are playing well at certain times and game,” Larsson told Barcelona’s official media.
“With the arrival of a new coach it’s normal that players need time to understand what the boss wants. It is true, however, that we’ve been playing good football recently.
“Not only did we play well against Real Sociedad, we are progressively playing better. The players like our way of doing things and our philosophy.
“It’s just a matter of winning. Everyone, players and coaches, demand victory.”
During his spell as a player at the Camp Nou, Larsson played alongside Lionel Messi, who had just been promoted to the first team.
“When I shared the pitch with Leo, he was very young,” Larsson said.
“I remember the first day he came to train with the first team. I talked to Gio van Bronckhorst and we wondered who that guy was.
“He was very good then and now he’s the best footballer in the world by far.
“Everything he does is at a spectacular level.
“No one could imagine the level he has displayed for so many years in a row. The number of goals he has scored is incredible, unimaginable. I don’t have enough words to describe his goals.”
