FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will be without 14 first-team players for the next ten days as international games take centre stage after only one game of the new Primera season. Along with players from the club’s B team, Guardiola will José Manuel Pinto, Maxwell, Adriano, Éric Abidal and Seydou Keita to work with. There will be a training session on Tuesday at 10:00 at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva complex and the players will also practice on Wednesday and Thursday morning. The squad will then be given a break and not return to training until next Monday. (read more here)
FC Barcelona will not be buying or selling any more players this summer after the club’s Sporting Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu stated that the squad was complete.(read more-click)
Martin Cáceres will spend the 2010-11 campaign on loan at Sevilla having returned to FC Barcelona at the end of last term following a year with Juventus in Serie A.
It was day of Mascherano for sure, he passed medical test, put pen-to-paper and was presented at Camp Nou. All I can add is "Welcome in Barca!"
The day started early for the Argentinian midfielder as he arrived at the Hospital de Barcelona at 07.55 ahead of the first medical tests required to make him a Blaugrana player. The first exams consisted of blood and urine tests and series of X-rays. Later at Camp Nou he underwent more tests at the hands of the club’s Servicios Médicos. Here the player saw his strength and overall fitness and form. Barça’s first-team doctor Ricard Pruna said that "Player is in excellent condition and is physically great." and added “In the last five years he has suffered one injury that has left him with problems.”
Javier Mascherano is officially a player of FC Barcelona after he signed a four-year contract with the club on Monday afternoon at the Camp Nou offices. Once the deal was signed Mascherano and Rosell went outside the offices to pose for a further round of snapshots by the media in front of the FC Barcelona crest.
Javier Mascherano has donned the famous FC Barcelona home shirt for the first time as he walked out on the Camp Nou pitch to pose for photographers after signing a four-year contract with the club. Around 2,000 fans entered Camp Nou to see the Blaugrana’s latest acquisition wear the colours and do the usual tricks with a ball as photographers snapped away. Javier Mascherano will wear the number 14 shirt for FC Barcelona after it was left vacant by Thierry Henry when he left the club at the end of last season.
Short video from presentation
And of course new character at Barca toons!
Than our new player spoke with press. "I can't believe how much I will enjoy it" he said.
David Villa: “I am pleased with the result, the win and the three points. It was a complete league debut and I could not do any more.” In El Sardinero watching from the stands were Villa’s family who travelled across Asturias to see him. “I dedicate this to all my family,” he explained. “It was just chance that the game was near where I am from and they could come.” (read more here- click)
Guardiola spoke with press after game (read more here) “To start with a 0-3 win is important,” he said. “We have lacked a spark, but that is normal,” the stated. “More games will give us that throughout the season. We are very satisfied with what we have done.” About Valdés- “He is Mister Reliable” About Iniesta - “He is in great form after a very complicated year,” the coach explained. “His goal was very difficult to pull off.”
Andrés Iniesta was given a standing ovation by the Racing Santander fans when he was substituted for his goal in Sunday’s game and the winner in the World Cup Final last month. “We are an example to society,” Pep Guardiola said. “It made us all proud.”
Right after game Andrés wrote on his facebook: "On the way to Barcelona, very happy with the result and the goal! A very good start, keep working!"
In El Mundo Deportivo Eric Abidal shares his thoughts about team, new season and more(click to read English translationn. I really like this photo
FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi (23) will receive another prestigious individual award during the last week of September. European Sports Magazine (ESM) along with Adidas will present the Golden Boot award to the striker for being best goalscorer among European clubs during the last season. (anyone surprised?:P) Congrats Leo!
The best in Europe 1. Lionel Messi – FC Barcelona (SP) 34 goals (coefficient 2) – 68pts 2. Didier Drogba – Chelsea FC (ENG) 29 goals (2) – 58 Antonio Di Natalie – Udinese (ITA) 29 goals (2) – 58
Bojan, who celebrated his 20th Birthday yesterday,recently sat down with Catalan sports paper Sport to talk about the upcoming campaign. (click to read English translation)
In El Periodico we can read interview with Andres Iniesta (click to read), there are great photos too! He spoke about many things, about his swimsuit too! "I didn't think that it was going to provoke so many comments . If I had knew about such reactions I would have put a worse one the next day. Next year I will go prepared." Awww how sweeet!And journalist said "you were very white.." so Andres responded "The photo was taken at the first day I went to the beach and I hadn't sunbathing. After that, we got tanned" (really?) "I have my way of being. Football is my life, and then I have my girlfriend, my family, people close to me and nothing else. My life is very normal."
Today was very important day for our team, first game of La Liga 2010-2011, great victory which promisses exciting season. Do you want to know more?
The group led by Josep Guardiola at 9:15 in the morning went to El Prat Airport. Flight to Santander was scheduled at 10, but finally it was a quarter of an hour late. After one hour the group arrived at sunny and quite warm (20°C) Santander. At airport players were greated by about 200 fans who cheered our boys and tried to take photo or got autograph. One of the most cheered was Villa:)
Besides the 18 players and coaching staff, club's board members traveled to Santander Carles Vilarrubí, Susana Monje, Jordi Moix, Pilar Guinovart i Ramon Pont. Andoni Zubizarreta was also present.
Here are some cool photos:
And now: the most important part- GAME. It was really nice one to watch, our boys were concetrated and showed their great skills. And there were 3 wonderful goals too! Very nice moment was when Iniesta recieved massive tribute from supporters. And I also like to underline that Valdés was one of the heroes of the day too as he saved penalty:)Carles Puyol watched the game from the bench due to injury (I hope it's nothing serious), also Xavi had some problems and played only 1st half (he was substituted by Pedro). At the press conference after the match against Racing, Guardiola explained why the two captains have been reserved players: "With the doctors have decided not to risk". "We can not lose so important players, we must protect them. We prefer to give them a day of rest" said the coach.
Messi, Iniesta and Villa scored, so there were cheerful moments:
Leo after scoring
and after missing (which version do you like to watch?:P)
Then was Andres' goal (my favourite one!)
David 'el Guaje' Villa scored his first goal for Barca in Liga! Congrats!
And some other photos: Valdés recieved congrats after his great penalty save. In Pep we trust!
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