Alves keen to keep Pep

Marauding wing-back Dani Alves said he wants Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to extend his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

The Brazilian Alves, whose attacking forays from the back have been a trademark of the hugely successful Barcelona side, said he could not envisage the 40-year-old Guardiola managing anywhere but at the Bernabeu in the future.

“Everyone has their cycle and one day his will come to an end. We hope his cycle will last for a very long time because we can’t imagine Barca without Guardiola,” the Brazilian told El Mundo.

The former Sevilla star said Guardiola, who enjoyed a successful playing career with the Blaugrana in addition to stints with Brescia and AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A, garnered ominous respect from within the playing group.

“We follow him with our eyes shut. He is very intelligent, he always knows what he is doing,” Alves said.

“To not follow Guardiola would be foolish. Since we are not foolish we will follow him until he gets tired of us.”