Barcelona in search of record club World cup treble

0

The Catalans can become the first club to win three Club World Cups if they end up lifting the trophy in Japan on Sunday - first up they face Guangzhou in Thursday's semi-final.

The Club World Cup is big a deal for Barcelona. It might not have the same glamour as the Champions League, nor does it write as many headlines, but Luis Enrique and his players are desperate to get their hands on the trophy in Japan this week. 

“You can only win the Club World Cup if you win the Champions League - and that says everything,” Gerard Pique said after Saturday's La Liga draw with Deportivo La Coruna.  

“There are many excellent players who’ve not had the chance to play in it because they never won a Champions League. We have the opportunity to play in it once again and we want to win it. It carries a lot of prestige and for us it’s something really important.” 

He couldn’t have been much clearer about Barca’s take on the competition. They will, of course, be going all out to return from Asia as world champions - just like they did in 2009 and 2011.