Barcelona’s triumphant players paraded the club’s fourth European Cup through the warm streets of a festive Catalan capital on Sunday, before partying with almost 100,000 fans at the Camp Nou.
Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United, a second Champions League triumph in three years and a fourth continental crown following successes in 1992 and 2006, capped a superb season in which the Spanish giants claimed a third successive La Liga title and reached the Copa del Rey final.
They flew back from London on Sunday afternoon on a plane decorated in the club’s colors with huge pictures of the players adorning the side and they touched down at the city’s El Prat airport at about 4pm.
Photo: Reuters
Boarding an open-top bus, Barcelona wound their way through the thronged streets with the European Cup and La Liga trophies displayed at the front of the vehicle.
Supporters clad in the club colors of claret and blue began pouring into the sun-kissed stadium from about 5:30pm and when the players arrived two-and-a-half hours later there were thousands more to welcome them in the streets outside.
With fireworks going off and rock music blaring inside the arena, the players and coaching staff were announced, before coach Pep Guardiola and his assistant Tito Vilanova brought the Champions League trophy on to the pitch.
After short speeches by captain Carles Puyol and Guardiola, Messi stepped up to address the stadium.
“I don’t have much to say other than to thank you all for your support during this amazing year,” the Argentine World Player of the Year said. “Hopefully, there will be many more to come. Long live Barca and long live Catalunya.”
The players then attended a concert given by Colombian pop diva Shakira, the girlfriend of centerback Gerard Pique.
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