Everyday Barça: interview

Barça were back in training on Firday morning as they prepared for Sunday night’s game against Mallorca at the Nou Camp. Xavi, with tendon problems, was the only player missing from the session.

Adriano trained apart from the rest of the players accompanied by a physio, as he continues to fight to get back from the thigh injury he picked up in San Mames which kept him out of the Kazan game.

Three Barça B players joined the 18 first team players in the session - Nolito, Martí Riverola and Thiago.

After training Pedro met with media, asked about Mou he said: it not affect our team, we don't care what Mourinho says. About Messi: He is the best, no discussion about that.

Saturday:
The squad went through their penultimate training session before Sunday’s game against Mallorca this morning and the good news for Guardiola was the presence of Adriano, who trained with the rest of the players after missing the midweek trip to Kazan. Adriano, who has been training apart from the rest of the squad all week following his thigh injury against Bilbao at the San Mames last week, was this morning back into the swing of things and trained normally with the other players.

After training Pep spoke with media:

Guardiola will also have to make do without Xavi for the Mallorca game, but he believes: “we have alternatives. Every player has their own qualities and we know how to make the most of them”. He also commented that international break should give Xavi time to get over his injury: “the professionals and the player are putting a lot of time into helping his tendinitis”.
Sunday will be the first time that Pep has some up against his ex-team mate Michael Laudrup as a manager and Guardiola was full of praise for the Dane: “he played so well, I’m sure he’s got to be a good manager too. He played his best football when he was here and when I played with him we always tried to give him the ball as we knew he’d just do something special”.

And some random notes from last few days:

In MD you can read great interview with Xavi (click to read original piece), there is also English translation (click)

My fav part:
Q:Maybe you even hang in the locker room some of the front pages that make you angry ...
Xavi:(Laughs)We hung pictures of magazine when one of us comes out dressed weird, but not newspapers.

Gary Lineker, who played for FC Barcelona for three seasons (1986 to 1989), appeared yesterday morning in the Ciutat Esportiva with a mission: make interview with Gerard Piqué for BBC.

I wrote before about battle Pep vs. Michael Laudrup (manager of Mallorca). But not only Guardiola has memories connected with tihs member of "Dream team". Andres Iniesta asked few years ago about idol from chilhood answered: Guardiola and Laudrup. So tomorrow we will experience something special. Two managers, in past team mates in Barcelona, and fan vs. team trained by idol. I can't wait!

Masch: "I'm not fool, I knew that coming to Barca means I would not always play," said player, who was satisfied with his first months as a Barça player. "I came to a champions' team " he recalled. "How it feels to see this team from the bench? One enjoys watching how good my team-mates play, why deny that." (full interview here-click)

What a game! So much to share and so little time, but I will try to post everything tonight.

Saturday was sunny in Barcelona, and rainy in Bilbao. Our team managed to win game in hard weather conditions. But let's start from beginning.

Some not-useful-but-still-intersting facts:
Andoni Zubizarreta, sporting director of FC Barcelona, always travel with the first team. This time, however, taking advantage of the fact that game was played in his homeland, he traveled on Friday (a day before the official expedition). When the team arrived at the hotel of concentration, Zubi was waiting there.

On the picture above you can see Palacio de Ibaigane - it's headquater of Athletic Club, on match day representatives of both clubs met there and have a traditional lunch. Curious fact: Athletic club bought this palace in 1986 for money from transfer of Zubizzareta to FCB.

Despite the rain and the state of the lawn at San Mames, it was a true luxury game. We have possibility to watch 10 World champions on the pitch, 8 from Barcelona and in Athletic team were Javi Martinez and Llorente.

Fernando Llorente and Gerard Pique have a good relationship. Llorente has a very good opinion about Pique and he expressed it in a recent interview in Marca.
Q:Whose one-on-one marking is more aggressive, that of Piqué/Puyol, or of your girlfriend?
A: Piqué and Puyol. They’re two of the best central defenders in the world and their marking is aggressive even in the training sessions. That of my girlfriend is a child’s game. (English translation by conlaroja)

Did you watched game? For me it was great pleasure to watch it, of course there were not-so-good moments too (like red card for Villa) but generally speeking it was great game, in hard weather condition, with hostile stadium, and still our players played in "style we believe" with many passes, great actions, lot of occasions to score.

And yes, we won! All 3 goals were scored by our midfielders.

Some photos:

Game wasn't easy, so the victory has special meaning for team.

Some highlights:

Tackle on Iniesta

Just to remind you, our team doesn't have good memories with Amorebieta

But it wasn't only red card that evening, David also recieved one:

well maybe he was frustrated after so many missed occasions, but in my oppinion the main reason for his behaviour was what happened few seconds before: defender from Atletic Bilbao (I don't remeber his name) was pushing Villa, so he almost fell but referee didn't react, I don't looking for excuses for David, he reacted in stupid way, and such way of dealing with problems on and off the pitch is unacceptable. Pep after game said "I want to be sure that never happens again.” which is right answer, whatever happened on the pitch our players should be respectful for opponents and show that there is no place for ANY violence on the pitch. If we want to keep mes-que-un-club-style we have to pay great attention to ethical behaviour and fair play.

Other facts: Adriano was substituted by Maxwell at half time. It turns out that the full back has torn fibres in his right thigh.

Xavi and Villa were the players that took the doping control, and passed it.

Players comments:

"We knew before the start that this was our chance (Madrid had drawn). We need to wait for these chances and today was one”
“Athletic v Barça games have always been intense. They’re special games and I remember that the games we have played with them have always been nice”

Keita said “it is very important for the team that the midfield players can also score”. “It is important to win here because it’s never easy. These are tough grounds and the players have to be strong … and we were missing Leo!”
Keita was also asked about the fans’ reaction to the red card shown issued to Amorebieta for a foul on Iniesta. “Andrés is a great person and a great player. But it’s only normal for the crowd to boo him if they don’t think it was a foul”

Funny part: reporter asked if Seydou remeber his last goal, and he answered he has no idea:P

Alves: “It was a difficult game with a lot of pressure from the crowd. But we have the personality and courage”.

Guardiola after game:
He has said he’d rather the team finished games off earlier rather than things staying uncertain until the end.
The FCB boss was unhappy that his players squandered so many chances tonight. “We have to show more desire, more ambition in front of goal and we need to score. Whenever we get chances in the area, we have to take them”. Nevertheless, he was generally pleased with the performance at such a difficult ground as San Mamés.

And as for the whistling aimed at Iniesta by the Athletic faithful, “It doesn’t matter. The fans have the right to do that kind of thing, to cheer and boo, they have paid their entrance. There’s nothing to be said. Spanish football knows all about the way Andrés behaves”. (my personal oppinion- I was surprised too, because everywhere he was cheered because of his winning goal in WC, but in Bilbao it was different, he scored for Spanish national team, Bilbao is in Basque Country, we have to remeber about it too. But from my point of view main reason for this reaction was that situation with red card)

Ok, so maybe it's enough about Saturday! ;) I HAVE to find some photos of Pep from game, someone wrote he was "waterproof" but I didn't find any good photos yes, so stay tuned;)

After the win on Saturday, the players were given a rest on Sunday and won’t train again until Monday at 9:30 as they prepare for the Champions League fixture against Rubin Kazan.

Adriano has been ruled out of FC Barcelona’s Champions League game against Rubin Kazan in midweek after suffering an injury against Athletic Club.

Leo Messi has continued to work on his recuperation on Sunday morning in the Ciutat Esportiva while Éric Abidal and Jeffren also trained.

and my fave part: photos from training:)

Other news

Regal Barça have once again shown why they are the best team in Europe. Barça won the Spanish Super Cup and Juan Carlos Navarro was made MVP of the competition.

The PB Ramon Llorens has celebrated its 50th Birthday with a party attended by the president Sandro Rosell and vice president Jordi Cardoner.