Andres Iniesta Details Mental Struggles, Talks Pep Guardiola, Barcelona and More

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has spoken candidly about the mental struggles he faced ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup following the death of his friend Dani Jarque. 

Jarque, the captain of Espanyol, died of a heart attack in 2009 aged 26, and in an interview with the Guardian's Sid Lowe, Iniesta discussed the malaise he fell into as a result, admitting he sought psychological advice while mourning the passing of his companion.

"When you need help, you have to look for it: at times it's necessary," he said. "People are specialists; that's what they're there for. You have to use them."

Of course, Iniesta went on to net the winning goal in the final of the World Cup against the Netherlands, tearing off his shirt, revealing a message that read "Dani Jarque, Siempre Con Nosotros"—"Dani Jarque, always with us."

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However, in the buildup to what has become the iconic moment in the history of Spanish football, the 32-year-old suggested he was far from himself and "became a victim of something that terrified" him.

"When you're not right, you experience moments that impact upon you, that worry you," he said the. "... There are moments when your mind is very vulnerable. You feel a lot of doubts. Every person is different, every case. What I'm trying to explain is that you can go from being in good shape to being in a bad way very quickly."

As noted by Lowe, in Iniesta's book, The Artist, he suggested he wasn't suffering from depression, rather an "unease." "It was like nothing was right," he said.

The legendary midfielder added that these feelings never made him want to walk away from football, rather that he took comfort in playing the beautiful game. Indeed, he suggested the winning goal on that night in South Africa six years ago made him "feel like a footballer again."

While it's the moment that will define Iniesta, his career is decorated with plenty of successes. With Spain, he's won two UEFA European Championship titles in addition to the World Cup, while on the domestic front with Barcelona, Iniesta has been key to eight LaLiga titles and four UEFA Champions League wins.

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The man who perhaps aided the midfielder's development the most is former manager Pep Guardiola, under whom Barcelona secured a memorable treble of league, Copa del Rey and Champions League.

Iniesta said it didn't take long for him to realise just how special the current Manchester City boss was, even though he didn't secure a win in either of his first two games in charge of the club:

"

Things hadn't started well but I believed in [Guardiola]. I felt a connection. When things come from inside, you know they're real. I felt that way, like I had to tell him, support him.

We came back from Euro 2008 and went to St Andrews and you could already see that this was different: the training, the communication, how the manager was. Until then there hadn't been such a defined style and I identified with it. It changed everything and we needed that.

"

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With Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi at the hub of Guardiola's team, Barcelona dominated and did so playing some of the finest football ever seen. They pressed relentlessly, smothered opponents and, through the intricate talents of the aforementioned trio, were able to pick apart even the most unforgiving defences.

Naturally, Barcelona have moved on under Luis Enrique, but they've also enjoyed a staggering amount of success.

While that's come with a slight shift in style—getting the ball forward quickly to Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez is the current modus operandi—Iniesta feels as though this current team are attuned to the classic Barcelona mantras:

"

Things have changed a bit but the essence will always be the same. Everything evolves and changes need time: we didn't play as well in September [2014] as in [the final] in the 2015 final in Berlin. 

The style is a product of the players; you have to use [Messi, Neymar, and Suarez] and maybe the midfielders have more pitch to cover, but I'm not someone who can only play a certain style or system.

"

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Iniesta remains a vital part of the Barca setup and is now captain of the club he's been at through his entire career. Of course, he's approaching the twilight of his playing days, and there will come a point when his influence does dwindle. Nevertheless, as this point, he's still the beating heart of this Barcelona side.

On the international stage, too, he'll be forever remembered for his extra-time winner against the Dutch, not to mention the many mesmeric performances he's turned in over the years. Few in the history of the sport have been able to blend so much success for both their club and country.