Guti Slams Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Real Madrid player Guti has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo a bottler, the midfielder insists that the Portuguese winger goes missing in big games and is unable to stamp his authority of major games like Lionel Messi does for Barcelona.

Guti played alongside Ronaldo during his first season when the winger signed from Manchester United; He said that while he admired Ronaldo as a player, his failure to produce on the biggest stage means he is not in the same class as Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

"Cristiano is a great player. He's decisive in many games, but in the big games he isn't up to the task, unlike Messi, who has shown he is," Guti told Spanish TV.

"The very best players are the ones who work in the highest-level matches."

Xavi Hails Barcelona As The Greatest Team For 20 Years

Barcelona playmaker Xavi has insisted that the European Champions are the best team of the last 20 years and hailed Lionel Messi as the best player of all time.

"There have been some great teams in history, Pele's Brazil, (Johan) Cruyff's Ajax, (Arrigo) Sacchi's Milan but in the past 20 years this Barcelona team is the best," he told Bild.

On Messi, he added: "He is the best player of all time - better than Pele, Maradona or Cruyff. We have to protect him as he is crucial.

"Without him we would not be what we are."

Barcelona has swept away every team that have come up against this season, including the dismantling of Manchester United in the Champions League final.

Xavi, though, was critical of the approach adopted by Jose Mourinho's men throughout the season.
He said: "Madrid were the hardest opponents but not because they played football but because they wanted to destroy the game.

"I like Manchester United's approach a thousand times better. It would be interesting to see what would happen if Real did play."

Speculation prior to the Wembley showpiece suggested coach Pep Guardiola was on the verge of standing down but Xavi hopes the former Barcelona midfielder "stays forever".

He added: "He (Guardiola) is very intelligent, very enthusiastic and very 'Barcelona-ish'.

"He is a great coach and I hope he stays forever, if not as coach then as sporting director or president."

Lionel Messi Wins Ballon d'or Award

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or trophy at a ceremony in Zurich tonight.

Messi, 23, won the prize - a combined trophy of the Fifa Player of the Year prize and Ballon d'Or, Messi beat his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xav to win the award.

"I'm surprised to win but pleased to be here with my friends," said Messi, who won the two separate awards last year.

Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented Treble with Inter Milan in 2010, was named the Coach of the Year.

Messi added: "To win it makes it even more special. I want to share it with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."