Johan Cruyff has returned to sit on a bench and manage a side, although his role was lacking any tension as he watched over a team for a charity game organised by the Laureus Foundation in Kuala Lumpur. Afterwards, the Dutchman was smiling and relaxed as he chatted amiably to the press.

Although he missed the Clásico, "as I was on a plane on my way to Malaysia", he explained why he was not surprised by the Barça victory: "I was confident Barcelona would win, I don't doubt their quality, and if this side manages to play their football they will always score goals". He also agrees with the majority when he says "a new league starts from now".

Cruyff does not understand the criticism of Gerard Martino before the date in the Santiago Bernabéu: "Everybody has an opinion that changes if the team wins or loses, but the results always comes from teamwork, there is no other way. And with that logic comes a problem that the club has created for itself".

After letting that phrase resonate in the warm air of the Malaysian capital, Cruyff went on to explain himself: "The problem is they have signed a 21-year-old who earns more than the players who have won everything. At his age, what he has to do is learn; time is on his side. Nobody can be a god at his age, this simply does not exist".

"It's not a problem for me", he added, "It is a problem for Barça. It creates conflict and a situation that is difficult to control".