Hleb: I was always fighting with Guardiola
Former Barcelona player Alexander Hleb has said he acted unprofessionally during his time at the club.
The Belorussian joined from Arsenal in 2008, spending one year in the first team — winning the treble in 2008-09.
However, despite the team’s success, the 34-year-old didn’t impress and spent the next few seasons on loan at various clubs before being released in 2012.
Ahead of Barça’s trip to his current club, BATE Borisov, Hleb has revealed he “behaved like a child” and would regularly row with then manager Josep Guardiola.
“I was always fighting with Guardiola,” he told Catalunya Radio. “I didn’t used to listen to him, he would say to take Spanish classes to integrate myself into the team, but I wouldn’t do them.
“[Pep and I] would shout at each other. He expected one thing from me and I would’t do it and the way with which I would say ‘no’ was like a child. My judgement was clouded and I ignored him.
“It was my fault I didn’t continue at Barça, it was to do with my character. I was stressed because I had problems in my private life.”
Hleb is a doubt for Luis Enrique’s side’s trip to Belarus in the Champions League on Tuesday, but he still harbours slim hopes of being fit.
