Madrid, Dec 2 (IANS) Tito Vilanova watched his FC Barcelona start to confirm the best ever start to a season by a side in Spain’s La Liga and then highlighted his players’ will to win.
Lionel Messi scored two more goals as Barca defeated Athletic Club Bilbao 5-1 Saturday at Camp Nou, with the other goals coming from Gerard Pique, Adriano and Cesc Fabregas. The win means Barca have won 13 of their first 14 games this season and have 40 points from a possible 42.
The win sees Barca set a record for the best opening campaign, beating the record set by Real Madrid in the 1991-92 season, which Vilanova’s side had equalled last weekend.
“It is very good that we have won all of those games and we are very happy but what makes me happier still is the fact that when we were winning 5-1 we were still pressing and still looking to score,” said Vilanova, who felt his players’ hunger was the key to their continued success.
“I am sure that in that way we will continue to be strong, I am sure we will win more games and sure we will fight to win titles. I am proud of the record but even prouder of the display of my players and how they read the game and kept on running,” added Vilanova.
However, he refused to draw comparisons between his Barca side and that coached by his predecessor Pep Guardiola who left the club last summer.
“Those four years were unrepeatable in everything we did; in the titles we won, the way we evolved a style of play. I am very proud of that. What has happened now is in a very short period of time and we will have to see what happens in the future but I am sure I will lose out on any long term comparison,” he said.
