Exclusive: Hleb's guide to Barcelona's formidable Wembley XI



Alexander Hleb has returned to Barcelona after a season on loan under Alex McLeish at Birmingham City.



He has played with and worked alongside nearly all the team that will contest this weekend’s Champions League final against Manchester United.



Here, he gives Neil Moxley an insight into that dressing-room and what Sir Alex Ferguson can expect this Saturday.

Behind enemy lines: Alexander Hleb's gives his verdict on Barcelona's superstars

Victor Valdes - One of the jokers in the pack. There is three of them. Victor, Xavi and Carlos Puyol - they are always messing around. He is a Catalan boy and he knows how important it is to play for Barcelona. I have to say I’ve not seen many people better than Valdes. Under-rated.



Dani Alves - Physically, he is very suited to his position. He never stops, back, forwards, back forwards. A nightmare to mark in training. I didn’t think much of his diving (v Real Madrid) but honestly, I think that was a one-off. I played against him when I was at Arsenal and he was at Seville and didn’t see any of that. Mind you, he was non-stop then and he is non-stop now. Not unstoppable but a very good player.

Backbone: Hleb says Victor Valdes (left) is under-rated and that Dani Alves (right) is a 'nightmare' to mark



Gerard Pique - He has the nickname ‘Kipo.’ I don’t know what that means, so I gave him the nickname: ‘Beckenbauer.’ I think people understand that! When he arrived from Manchester Utd, Pep Guardiola gave him confidence every day. Every single day giving Pique massive confidence. He is a leader. He’s very good. But not a great - yet. He can be, though.

Javier Mascherano - He only joined when I left. I think Liverpool fans and English football-watchers know more about him than I do! Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t need me to tell him about Mascherano and his qualities.

English connections: Barcelona's centre-back pairing of Gerard Pique (left) and Javier Mascherano (right)



Carles Puyol - He is a fighter. Not just in games - in training, too. One hundred per cent, all the time. He is the spirit of the team. He is very English in as much as he fights to the end. He doesn’t have great technique, but no-one has a bigger heart. He doesn’t do much talking in the dressing-room, shouting: ‘Come on, guys,’ or anything like that. He does it out on the pitch. And yes, we did take the mickey out of his hair.

Sergio Busquets - Very young but for me already the best in his position in the world. He has made huge steps in the past two years. If he is on the same team as Xavi and Iniesta in training, the ball moves so quickly between them. Guardiola saw something and he is very good at giving confidence to the players, particularly the young Spanish players. Busquets with his support play is a very important part of that team.

Master and the apprentice: Captain Carles Puyol (left) and holding midfielder Sergio Busquets (right)



Xavi - He is this team. Unbelievable. His technique, vision, passing. For me, he’s the best at Barcelona. All the time I was there, I saw him lose the ball maybe twice. I’m talking about in matches and in training. He can play any game. One-touch, two-touch. He may not be the star with Messi about, but for me he is this team’s heartbeat.



Andres Iniesta - Really comes alive around Xavi. I can’t say they are similar because, for me, Xavi is the one. But at any other time, Iniesta would be a massive, massive player in his own right. When he is playing two-touch with Xavi in training, you might as well not bother. You cannot get the ball off them. He’s very quiet off the pitch. Not particularly aggressive, either, but he has other fantastic attributes.

The engine room: Xavi (left) and Andres Iniesta (right) are arguably the two best midfielders in the world



Pedro - One of the boys who has grown through the Barcelona system. And another one to prosper under Guardiola. He is a very hard-working player. But because of that, people do not appreciate his quality. He is a great finisher. Cool in front of goal. Very good indeed.

David Villa - I did not get the chance to play with him because he joined when I left this season but from what I can gather, he lives for scoring goals. He has great players around him now and will score plenty in the next couple of years. This is only his first season, remember. Better may still be to come.

Natural goalscorers: Pedro (left) and David Villa (right) are both lethal finishers



Lionel Messi - I think that Lionel Messi gives Barcelona an extra 50 per cent. And I think the Barcelona team gives Lionel Messi an extra 50 per cent. I don’t think that one can operate as well without the other. What can you say about him as a a player? He’s a one-off. Unique. Brilliant. But there is such togetherness between Messi and Barcelona, though, my God. Off the pitch, he is very quiet. Keeps himself to himself. He can be quite funny, I think, but my Spanish wasn’t good enough to get his jokes!

'Brilliant': Hleb is in awe of Lionel Messi's ability

Pep Guardiola - No question about his ability. Particularly good at bringing through the young Spanish players, giving them confidence and slotting them into his framework. He is where he wants to be, I think. He knows Barcelona. He played for Barcelona. He manages Barcelona. I think he has the attributes to be a very good manager elsewhere and it would be interesting to see what would happen if he were to test himself at another club. But then, he is Barcelona manager, why would he want to go anywhere else?