Cruff rubbishes end of an era term

Former Barcelona and Netherlands icon Johan Cruyff has dismissed claims the Catalan club's golden era is over.

Despite bowing out of the Champions League on the back of a crushing 7-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich, Tito Vilanova's men are well on course to sew up their 22nd Liga title.

And Cruyff has cited the impending domestic success of the side he once represented as a player and coach as evidence of their continued ability to compete at the top.

"(The end of an era) doesn't exist; it's just a piece of nonsense someone said," the 66-year-old told AS.

"It's simply a matter of mistakes made by the club's directors. That happens."

Former Barca boss Pep Guardiola highlighted the thin line between winning and losing, and insisted he does not see himself as superior to other coaches.

"I'm not better than any other coach. Success and failure are part of the game, and I have won and lost as a coach and as a player," the Spaniard told reporters in Argentina.

"As a coach, the secret is to push the right button for every player. You can only paint pictures; when the game begins, everything is in my players' hands."

Guardiola amassed a 14-trophy haul in a four-year spell at Camp Nou and will succeed Jupp Heynckes as Bayern Munich boss at the end of the season.