Barcelona´s Guardiola upbeat about new season

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expressed his confidence Thursday that his team, which thrashed US side Seattle 4-0, have maintained the form that brought them a unique treble last season.

“I am very satisfied. We have recovered the form of the last pre-season, with lots of chances in the first half and less shots but more control of the game in the second,” the club’s website quoted him as saying from Seattle.

But he said it was “still too early to draw conclusions”.

Argentine star Lionel Messi scored twice and youngsters Jeffren Suarez and Pedro Rodriguez also hit the net in the win over Seattle on Wednesday.

Barcelona beat holders Manchester United to win their third Champions League crown in May in Rome. The club also won the domestic league and cup last season, making them the first Spanish team to win the treble.

Since then, the club has only slightly changed its lineup.

Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived from Inter Milan last month on a five-year deal which involved Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o moving the other way and the Italian side receiving 46 million euros as well as Alexander Hleb on loan.

And Brazilian defender Sylvinho left to make way for his compatriot Maxwell.