Feeling Gud

Gudjohnsen: Content in Catalonia

We seem to be gelling more as a group, and we're starting to feel as though we could be part of something spectacular this season.

Eidur Gudjohnsen
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Eidur Gudjohnsen told Revista he believes a new, tight-knit Barcelona can look forward to a "spectacular" season under Pep Guardiola's stewardship.

The Iceland international has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Camp Nou since his switch from Chelsea two seasons ago.

But the 31-year-old insists that, far from feeling a fringe man, he is revelling in the camaraderie inspired by Guardiola, a man whose results with the Blaugrana are the best by a Barca manager in his first season for 28 years.

"Happiness come when results go your way and you're playing well," Gudjohnsen told Revista.

"Maybe at times last season you didn't see that atmosphere. Training is serious but we have a smile on our face; it's hard not to when the team's playing well and we're enjoying ourselves."

Despite being limited to just five appearances this term, Gudjohnsen admits he feels galvanised by a Guardiola regime that emphasises discipline and team work.

"It's fair to say we're training harder; maybe the word is discipline," he said.

"There's more discipline in our training; we have to be in earlier, have breakfast together and sometimes lunch together afterwards. Some details have changed.

Respect

"We seem to be gelling more as a group, there seems to be a lot more respect for each other within the squad.

"And when you see things coming off on the pitch that we've been working on, it gives you great satisfaction. We're starting to feel as though we could be part of something spectacular this season."

A rumoured summer return to England never materialised but after holding talks with the new chief, Gudjohnsen is confident of achieving his ambitions with the Catalan giants.

"One of the reasons I stayed is because [Guardiola] made it very clear to me that if I stayed, I'd be part of his plans," Gudjohnsen revealed.

"I explained to him in the summer that I didn't just want to stay here for the sake of it, I wanted to be involved.

"I've got a lot of ambition still, especially after coming here and not winning any trophies, but he took all my doubts away in one meeting and that gave me a lot of desire to do well.

"That's probably what he's done with the rest of my team-mates because everyone feels that at any given moment, they could be called upon and they have to be ready to play their part."